SAG & AFTRA Plan New Merger Meetings

LOS ANGELES: The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG) have planned an unprecedented eight- or nine-day meeting to take place next month to discuss the details of a merger between the two unions.

Called the Group for One Union, or G1, the groups concluded a set of two-day "check-in" meetings on Monday to review the progress on the merger plans. The formal meeting about the merger is set for January 8 to 15. Two weeks after that, the two unions’ boards will convene to vote on the plan. SAG’s board is planned to meet on January 27, followed by AFTRA’s board meeting on January 28. The SAG Awards are to be held January 29.

If the two boards approve the plan, which many believe will be the case, the merger ballots would go out to members in mid-February.