SAG, AFTRA publish merger paperwork

Screen Stars Guild and also the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists have published their suggested merger documents online on their own particular internet sites. SAG's board approved the proposal Friday and AFTRA adopted on Saturday. The documents went live Tuesday evening. The proposal is going to be sent on February. 27 to 120,000 SAG people and 70,000 AFTRA people, who include stars, tv stations, DJs, performers and ballroom dancers. To pass through, the referendum would want a 60% approval margin from both orgs among votes cast. The brand new union is going to be known as SAG-AFTRA, should people approve the merger election. SAG people defeated merger plans in 1999 and 2003 while AFTRA people supported both. In 2003, the merged union could have been known as the Alliance of Intl. Media Artists, who have been an issue within the defeat. Each site -- world wide web.sag.org and world wide web.aftra.com -- also contained the next message: "You may already know, merger referendum ballots are scheduled to become mailed on or about Feb 27 - but people of both unions now have the complete merger documents online. Full printed merger documents may also be mailed to every voter using the referendum ballot, which is due for return on March 30. This can give each member enough time to create a thoughtful and well-informed decision." The websites also contain links to see the SAG-AFTRA Merger Agreement, SAG-AFTRA Metabolic rate and also the Pension & Health / Health & Retirement Feasibility Review. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com