AFTRA And SAG Negotiators Agree On Merger Package To Send To Memberships

COMMENTS (70)

• I think everyone is sorry you lost your job. That’s terrible. At the same time, don’t forget lots of Americans lost their jobs at the time of our strike. Yes , things were better before…. Because our economy was better before. We’ve all had to tighten our belts. You can continue to blame sag for you losing your job, but we won’t apologize for pursuing better wages, better conditions, and a better living. Unfortunately, the sag strike fell at the same time as the economy downturn so we had to take less then we originally were fighting for. It didn’t work out when aftra undercut sag by offering lower contracts to producers, during a time when actors were stuck financially and had to go where the jobs were, despite being compensated less.

  In truth, there is nothing I want from aftra in this merger. Other than the jobs sag lost to them to be back under our union. But again, its time we tighten our belts and join together so we will no longer be fighting amongst ourselves when pursuing our better interests. As for those of you who lost your jobs outside out union, I am sorry, but hopefully we can all work together to get this business back to being a thriving community.

  Comment by hmm... — Tuesday January 17, 2012 @ 7:35pm EST  Reply to this post

• Tom. Even those who think like you, know you’re so completely whacked, they distanced themselves from you a long time ago.Paul Christie and Sam Freed used to make jokes, about you. To me!!!

  Comment by Alan Rosenberg — Tuesday January 17, 2012 @ 9:18pm EST  Reply to this post

• Oh, and by the way, I do know how the AMPTP feels about merger because they told us in the 2008 negotiations.

  Comment by Alan Rosenberg — Tuesday January 17, 2012 @ 9:22pm EST  Reply to this post

• But, enlighten us, please. These corporations should fear this merger? Why? Just how will this make us stronger? Huh? Lay it out for us, Tom. Some combination of David Whide, Kim Roberts, Roberta Reardon, and Ken Howard going to take us out? Over what? Are they going to fight for something like they did for first class travel? They sure got themselves bloody over that. Are you going to lead the charge, Tom.? Over what issue? What matters to you, you idiot.

  Comment by Alan Rosenberg — Tuesday January 17, 2012 @ 9:33pm EST  Reply to this post

• I hope the merger goes through just to piss off all these entitled SAG members. AFTRA for the win!

  Comment by SAG/AFTRA — Wednesday January 18, 2012 @ 2:22am EST  Reply to this post

• 1. I cannot and will not Ever VOTE yes on a merger that doesn’t explain pension and health benefits in a merged union.
  2. I have never been supported by AFTRA, I have had to battle them over issues like getting paid for double time on a pilot that worked 14 hour days. I was only paid for time and a half. I was told by payroll that AFTRA had made a deal. THEY GAVE UP DOUBLE TIME. Just gave it away. A right that people went to the mat for, and struck for, just given away to obtain jurisdiction over a pilot. This was an Exhibit A show also. This is what AFTRA calls it’s network shows. I eventually got the money after filing a claim, but was treated like crap from AFTRA whom I pay to protect me. SAG on the other hand has ALWAYS looked out for its members. I can ALWAYS count on them to to be fair.

  3. SAG is a class act, always has been and has always looked out for its members. My life has been better because of it. It exists for it members, to create and establish a fair and living wage. We have been abandoned by our above the line actors who are “above ” the union. If you are an actor with a quote, you are somewhat “above” the union. Your quote is above the scale which was set by the union. The union exists for the 99 % of us. There are more of us than there are of them !! We have been caught up in just trying to make our benefits. Busting our asses to work while benefits go in one union pot or the other. For many there aren’t enough in either pot, so despite the fact that you may be working a lot, you cant qualify for benefits in either union. This is what they are counting on. The exhaustion vote. Please consider the bigger picture here and what you are giving way to the producers, who make millions in profits, you are giving up your right to a fair and living wage, you are giving up a residual structure that will help support you when you aren’t working, you are giving up the best health care in the industry, and you are giving up a pension that accrues at a much better rate than the AFTRA one.

  4. AFTRA is a “union” who feels that a $48.00 a day ( yes that’s forty-eight dollars a day ) was a fair rate to give producers to have stand ins ( called rehearsal actors ) rehearse WHILE BEING FILMED , on various award and variety shows. They presented it as $24.00 an hour so it skated by state law, but gave the producers, a 2 hour minimum day. Therefore many people received a $48.00 gross check for their work. That’s about a $36.00 net. SAG made sure there is an 8 hour minimum day . AFTRA members had to fight for a new contract that now has a 5 hour minimum and received it Im sure in part for AFTRA to appear to be merger worthy. But to me, ANY union that thinks giving producers a $48.00 a day deal for talent is not “looking out for its members”. Would you work for $48.00 a day ?

  5. CNN is non -union. I repeat, CNN is non union. This IS AFTRA’S jurisdiction . And they have never unionized it. CNN is in a right to work state but has never been willing to unionize despite its billions in profit. AFTRA ALLOWS IT’S MEMBERS TO WORK NON-UNION. How is that even possible ? And what would become of actors then, under a merged union ? Will the AFTRA side take over ? Let producers hire non union talent will we all still pay our dues ?

  6. HEALTH CARE: AFTRA health care costs more, and isn’t nearly as good. Every claim I had was sent back to me for “proof”. Every claim was a battle. Unlike SAG who paid their share of any claim sent it.

  7. AFTRA is famous for making separate deals with every show. SAG has a template for a type of show. Most AFTRA shows , especially those for Disney and Nickelodeon DONT PAY RESIDUALS. I have a friend whose Zach and Cody has aired over 99 times and he hasn’t received a single penny in residuals. It is an AFTRA show.

  8. SAG is Neiman -Marcus. AFTRA is Wal-mart. What happens when the 2 merge ? Guess ? Prices drop. Does SAG need AFTRA to survive ? I think not, and here’s why. There were more SAG pilots last year than the year before proving that with the right motivated leadership bent on continuing the quality of SAG, we can continue . Who says digital is represented by AFTRA besides AFTRA ? They just jumped on it. Why cant SAG jump on it too ?

  9. Roberta Reardon who has no credits on imdb, but still is the president of AFTRA, receives PAY for her job. No SAG president or board member does. I guess it pays well to destroy SAG.

  10. And lastly, I would like to thank Alan Rosenberg who took a beating for looking out for SAG members interests. He has been vilified by many, but in truth, he is a fair and decent man. I have been to many meetings that he was at, and he listened to every member there. I personally got to speak to the president of my union and he listened to me. THANK YOU Alan Rosenberg, for fighting the good fight and for the considerable sacrifices you have made for the life of this union. I have been a proud SAG member for 30+ years.

  Peggy Lane O’Rourke

  Comment by Peggy Lane O'Rourke — Wednesday January 18, 2012 @ 3:24am EST  Reply to this post

• You are mistaken. United we can negotiate together instead of SAG TV contracts VS AFTRA TV contracts. Our pensions are a different issue and not a part of this merger action.

  Comment by Larry Vigus — Wednesday January 18, 2012 @ 8:33am EST  Reply to this post

• Temper, temper, little man.

  Comment by working actor — Thursday January 19, 2012 @ 12:36am EST  Reply to this post

• this is worse than the presedential debates….liberal shmiberal …what does any of the name calling do to the real facts..wish we were privvy to them

  Comment by Anonymous — Thursday January 19, 2012 @ 6:34pm EST  Reply to this post

• That’s right Robert. All of you that are NOT actors need to shut your piehole about how Great this merger is gonna be for us actors.

  You have no idea how we are being SET UP, to get squashed by producers. They are gonna start using non union actors, our pension and health is gonna be F****** up and the middle class actor can’t make a living now. Were gonna have to get 9-5 jobs if after this merger because we ll really be scrapin pennies for one line on a show. VOTE NO ON MERGER!!!!!!

  Comment by Joan — Thursday January 19, 2012 @ 9:27pm EST  Reply to this post

• Larry I see they sold you on that one union strength in unity Bulls***!!! Did you forget that the reason we are going this “Sag contract vs AFTRA contract as you put it is because of AFTRA!!!! AFTRA walked away from negotiations 2008 not Sag, AFTRA!!
  Gabrielle Carteris and all of unite for strength moderates ganged up on Rosenberg and Allen to get rid of them because they fought for ACTORS NEEDS! Ken, Ned Roberta and the gang don’t give a sh** about actors. They are working for the PRODUCERS people!!!! Whatever the producers want Ken and them are going to give it to them. The last listening tour they had for all union members was a waste of time because they had NO ANSWERS. WTF was the point of a listening tour if you don’t even have a plan. They are going to force us go vote yes without time to look at this plan they just suddenly came up with. REALLLY?? It’s the stupid actors that don’t ask questions that voted on these bull**** contracts we have now and the corrupt leadership that’s about to bust the union, that will vote yes on this merger when you don’t know the details!!

  Comment by harry — Thursday January 19, 2012 @ 9:42pm EST  Reply to this post

• Thank you Peggy for speaking the truth!!! AFTRA is the most horrible union in the country towards actors. I HATE AFTRA!!! That’s right I said HATE. Like Peggy, I still haven’t been paid for allowances and extras on AFTRA shows because AFTRA was not created to protect actors. Screen Actors guild was created to protect actors. Actors that are reading this thinking about that!!! Have you noticed working on AFTRA shows is like collecting a welfare check??? The staff at AFTRA are a bunch of rude rude douche bags the way you are treated. Why the he’ll would any actor wanna merger with AFTRA?? How come no one is fighting for one union of actors only under SAG??

  Comment by terri — Thursday January 19, 2012 @ 9:51pm EST  Reply to this post