backstage.com: The new mega-union is going to be tested in battle—and sooner than most people realize. In an instant last Friday, SAG’s James Cagney Boardroom exploded with applause, joy, gratitude and relief – and became SAG-AFTRA’s James Cagney Boardroom. The vote was resounding: AFTRA members voted 86 percent Yes and SAG members – who had voted down merger twice in the last 13 years – gave a stunning 82 percent thumbs up. The turnout was high as well (52 percent and 53 percent, respectively). Monday morning brought the reality that even harder work lay ahead. Integrating a 600-person staff is tough. But leave aside cardkeys and org charts. The new union is going to be tested in battle – and sooner than most people realize.
Thursday, April 05, 2012
SAG-AFTRA: 3 Big Challenges for the Merged Union
backstage.com: The new mega-union is going to be tested in battle—and sooner than most people realize. In an instant last Friday, SAG’s James Cagney Boardroom exploded with applause, joy, gratitude and relief – and became SAG-AFTRA’s James Cagney Boardroom. The vote was resounding: AFTRA members voted 86 percent Yes and SAG members – who had voted down merger twice in the last 13 years – gave a stunning 82 percent thumbs up. The turnout was high as well (52 percent and 53 percent, respectively). Monday morning brought the reality that even harder work lay ahead. Integrating a 600-person staff is tough. But leave aside cardkeys and org charts. The new union is going to be tested in battle – and sooner than most people realize.
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It seems like the merger happened very soon after it was approved. I wonder if it will be better for the new union to take care of the health and pension benefit thing as a unit now that the merger is official, or if it would have been better for some of these things to be organized and straightened out before the merger became official. It sounds like the old AFTRA part of the new union is going to be helping the old SAG part out for a while, though, especially when it comes to pension and benefits. This makes it seem like the merger came just in time! I can imagine that some former AFTRA members might be upset about that, but hopefully a decent compromise will be made and everyone will remained as fully covered as possible. The idea of wanting the people of the union to organize is interesting. When I first read that I thought, "Does it really make a difference if SAG-AFTRA members are friends with other SAG-AFTRA members?" But when I read about the upcoming contract negotiations it all made sense. These people need to band together to support their new-formed union so that their new-formed union can help them to get what they want. I hope that the union members and leaders do not get complacent. It seems like this merger could be great in the long run, as long as things are managed well in this critical time.
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