“With this historic vote, members of both unions have affirmed one of the most basic principles of unionism: Together we are stronger,” Howard, one of the now co-presidents of SAG-AFTRA said. “This merger, the result of months – really years – of planning, brings together the best elements of both unions and positions us well to thrive in the changing 21st-century media landscape.”
Both unions voted separately and in favor of the merger by over 80% each. (A majority of 60% was needed to merge SAG and AFTRA.) In the past, AFTRA showed high interest in uniting, while SAG members fell short of the needed majority each time.
The results of the merger vote were live streamed at sagaftra.org, a campaign website that presumably will become the online home of the new union. More than 6,000 viewers watched the announcement online.
SAG-AFTRA now represents actors, announcers, broadcasters, journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voice-over artists and other media professionals whose work can be seen and heard in theaters, on TV and radio, sound recordings, the Internet, games, mobile devices and home video.
Curious about dues? That has already been broken down for you. Read WILL SAG-AFTRA DUES GO UP OR DOWN to find more detailed information.
Although a lawsuit is still in the court system threatening to fight the merger in years to come, SAG-AFTRA is moving forward starting Monday morning.
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