The G1 established a series of work groups to discuss six key
areas that rank-and-file members identified as important during the Screen
Actors Guild and AFTRA Presidents’ Forum for One Union nationwide Listening
Tour. The six workgroups are:

• Governance and Structure
• Finance and Dues
• Collective Bargaining
• Pension, Health and Retirement
• Operations and Staff
• Member Education and Outreach

The work groups will meet throughout 2011, formulate
recommendations for how the successor union should address each area and bring
those recommendations back to the G1 for approval. These recommendations will
inform the G1’s work to create the Merger Agreement, National Constitution and
uniform dues structure that each union’s National Board has required for review
by January 2012.

In a joint statement, AFTRA National President Roberta Reardon
and Screen Actors Guild President Ken Howard praised the unions’ inaugural
meeting saying: “We applaud the members and staff of our two unions for their
incredible solidarity and vision during this intense and substantive weekend. We
know the members of the successor union will be well served by their diligent
and hard work during the months to come.”

On Friday, June 17, AFL-CIO President Richard L. Trumka, joined
by Department of Professional Employees President Paul Almeida, welcomed the
members and staff of Screen Actors Guild and AFTRA. Trumka addressed the group
and praised the unions’ leaderships for their commitment to solidarity and their
work on the effort to unite AFTRA and SAG saying, “I encourage you to keep an
open mind and base your decision not on any preconceived notions but on this
measure alone: What is best for our members, our unions and our future. That’s
the big picture we must all keep our eyes on. Whatever your decision the 12
million members of the AFL-CIO will support you.”

The weekend’s meetings were facilitated by Rutgers School of
Management and Labor Relations Professor Susan J. Schurman, and noted labor
consultant Peter S. DiCicco. The next meeting of the full AFTRA and Screen
Actors Guild Group for One Union is scheduled for August 27 – 28 in New York
City.