This just arrived in my email box.

AFTRA, SAG Continue Discussions to Create
One Union

Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation
of Television and Radio Artists continued formal discussions this weekend
between the AFTRA New Union Committee and the SAG Merger Task Force to
facilitate the creation of one union to represent all members of Screen Actors
Guild and AFTRA.

Meeting together as the Group for One Union, or
G1, members and staff of both unions held meetings Saturday through Monday by
video and teleconference between New York and Los Angeles. Originally scheduled
as face-to-face meetings in New York, members and staff were cautioned not to
travel due to the impending landfall of Hurricane Irene in New York and
elsewhere along the East Coast. Both unions quickly implemented a contingency
plan, however, to ensure the safety of all participants and continue the
meetings as scheduled.

The G1, comprised of members including actors,
performers, recording artists and broadcast professionals, received a
presentation from its Member Education & Outreach Workgroup, and reviewed
and discussed findings and recommendations of its Governance & Structure
Workgroup. These and four other member-led workgroups have been holding
discussions since they were created by the G1 at its inaugural meeting in Silver
Spring, MD, June 19 -21.

“We made important progress this weekend,” said
AFTRA National President Roberta Reardon. “We examined the myriad strategies,
approaches and structures to create a strong, new union that will further
empower our members to strengthen their careers and secure their future. I thank
everyone involved for their continued solidarity and deeply appreciate their
patience and resilience as we worked through the challenges of Hurricane Irene.”

“If anyone doubted our commitment to merger,
what happened this weekend should put those doubts to rest – even a hurricane
couldn’t stop us,” said SAG National President Ken Howard. “We covered a lot of
ground and I’m so proud of our SAG and AFTRA team. It’s a challenging task, but
we’re working extremely well together and I’m more confident than ever that we
will get this done for the members.” 

The weekend 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 Group for One Union
is scheduled for October 14 – 18 in Los Angeles.