Talks on for SAG merger with AFTRA

MUMBAI: Hectic activity can be seen for the creation of a single actors‘ union in Hollywood. The board of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) has given its approval to continue a series of meetings with the leadership of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) on that account. 

The board has also set a 14 May deadline for a union committee to make a series of recommendations on a formal process for establishing a successor union that would represent actors and other performers.

Though nothing has been agreed upon, the concept of merging has the backing of both union presidents who have been holding a series of meetings with members around the country to discuss the topic.

While SAG represents 125,000 actors, AFTRA has a membership of 70,000 members that includes, besides actors, news broadcasters and recording artists. About 40,000 actors belong to both unions.