Merger rivals release statement

Rivals in the SAG-AFTRA merger are stating twelve problem areas inside their official opposition statement. (See full text of document below.) "The current merger plan solves alongside nothing and addes lots of natural problems," in conclusion mentioned. "Election no and demand our union leaders conduct the needed research to create an agrement that will not harm stars." The statement is out Feb. 27 incorporated within the ballot materials shipped to 120,000 people in the Screen Stars Guild. Another opposition statement is predicted being delivered to the 70,000 people in the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists. Ballots will probably be tabulated March 30 and 60% of people voting in unions must approve for your merger to endure.Report was signed by eight SAG national board people -- Scott Bakula, Joe d'Angerio, Elliott Gould, Valerie Harper, Erection dysfunction Harris, Anne-Marie Manley, David Jolliffe and Martin Sheen. Lawyers for your rivals released the document Sunday. Problem areas reported inside the opposition document, which received approval Friday from SAG lawyers, include claims in the merger plan's flaws in the dozen areas: pension and health split earnings on pension and health contributions dues structure "preferential" control over tv producers the three-voucher system for background stars "bloated" documents a convention structure of governance selected leaders capacity to get pay majority voting rules for Hollywood reps exchange of information agent rules and settling strength. Inclusion in the document -- limited to 1,000 words -- wasn't needed incorporated within the ballot materials nevertheless the SAG and AFTRA boards OK'd its inclusion lately. Professional-merger forces have contended that SAG and AFTRA might have more clout just like a combined union. The unions have asserted in the feasibility study that 100s of multi-employer pensions have merged within the last 25 years or so, and there is no legal obstacle to merging the SAG and AFTRA pension and health plans. The study has furthermore mentioned multi-employer plan mergers don't pose any elevated possibility of insufficient benefits. Merger backers contend that mixing SAG and AFTRA makes it better to mix the plans just like a foundation fixing the problem that artists face to make contributions for the separate plans after which it not meeting the earnings qualifications. The professional-merger reps round the SAG board have centered elections lately. SAG people switched lower merger plans in 1999 and 2003 while AFTRA people supported both combinations. Complete statement of opposition to SAG-AFTRA merger:SAG ACTORSHAVE YOU Examined THE IMPACT From The MERGER?Otherwise, Listed Below Are CRITICAL Particulars You Need To Know:(Limited to what allotted to us)PENSION & HEALTHSAG uses a "Feasibility Review." Even though it found the final outcome the merger might be legal, nobody ever doubted Mergers are legal. What about our benefits?SAG did not request any actuarial the study into whether a merger might be financially safe.Why? They understand, like the AFTRA Trustees, that "the merger of pension and health funds aslarge and divergent since the AFTRA and SAG plans boosts complex and various financial, legaland benefit issues that could just be addressed using a comprehensive analysis performedby the funds."No matter the express claims in Appendix I for the SAG Metabolism, and Board Resolutions,no study was completed to judge the financial impact from the merger of Pension or Health Plans.Would be the benefits safe? The SAG and AFTRA P&H&R Plans are extremely different. Considermerging these factors: SAG pension accrual rate: 2% of earnings: AFTRA: under 1% of earnings. SAG early retirement penalty: 3% every year. AFTRA: DOUBLE: 6% every year. SAG Plan 2 annual premium (number of four): $1,620: AFTRA Individual Plan annual premium(number of 4): $17,260The merger plan does not even try to reconcile these together with other versions. Expertsaddressing the financial impact issues believe SAG individuals will most likely sufferdiminished future benefits.Highly respected pension and health experts Brucker & Morra have found the final outcome:InchTill an entire and formal ERISA Impact Report of techniques to cope with andquantify these issues is completed, nobody, not necessarily pensionexperts, can smartly evaluate or assess the probable negativeimpact round the members' pension and health improvements. The unionmerger is actually inextricably interconnected while using plan merger thatmembers can not be asked for to evaluate and election round the Union Merger untilissues relevant for the Plan Merger are actually resolved and concreteproposals developed and so the people might make informed options."The issue is actually the result on SAG member benefits, when merged with lowerAFTRA benefits. Once the merger of unions qualifies, SAG people will not have anyright to election to guard their benefits by preventing merger in the Pension or Health Plans.In the event you election to merge the unions, you are eliminating a substantial hurdle to later merger of people plans.Once the unions are incorporated, individual people might have no election without any option regarding amerger of Pension and Health Plans.SPLIT EARNINGSThe merger Plan does not even address, a more compact amount solve our split earnings issues. Rather, it willcodify the problem. If merger qualifies, the pointed out plan's to hold onto separate yourearnings, similar to through the final 12 several days. Once the recommended merger qualifies, withoutsignatures from 15% in the roughly 158,000 people, you will have no further rightto election relating to this problem either.NEW DUES STRUCTUREIf merger qualifies, over 70,000 SAG-only members' base dues increases from $116 to$198.Tv producers - Preferential TreatmentBroadcasters inside the merged union could work NON-UNION on fundamental cable systems (ESPN,MSNBC, CNN, CNBC, FOX NEWS, etc.), with drastically reduced dues compared to stars.Broadcaster work dues from $ to $100,000 will be the much like stars at 1.575%. Broadcasterwork dues from $100,000 to $250,000 might be drastically reduced to .274% (and designated at$250,000) with maximum dues of $2,184.Stars, however, pays 1.575% on ALL earnings around $500,000, with maximum dues almost400% greater: $8,073.BACKGROUND Stars - THREE VOUCHER SYSTEMThe much maligned and poorly controlled Three Voucher entry dependence on SAG willcontinue.Merging unions does not guarantee more Background jobs. It might only result in morecompetition for a similar covered jobs.BLOATED BUREAUCRACYThere is not any plan to streamline or eliminate replicated services publish merger. The completely new union willkeep all 635 SAG and AFTRA employees. Nor you'll be able to plan to equalize the current SAGstaff (3.5%) and SAG member (2%) pension accrual rates.CONVENTIONConvention will be the finest controlling body inside the merged union - greater in comparison to Board ofDirectors. Convention might have the right to MERGE with elevated unions, set policy, controlthe Metabolism, without giving the membership any direct election on such matters.8 from 10 National authorities will probably be Selected at Convention not by direct member election.The Selected Leader will have a way to delegate authority for the Executive V . p ., also selected bythe Convention, ultimately by people.Selected LEADERS MAY RECEIVE PAYThe SAG Metabolism prohibits needing to pay selected authorities and board people. The completely new unionConstitution makes way for obligations, presently not permitted.MAJORITY Forget About RULESHollywood signifies almost all SAG people, and a number of of revenue. If merged,when Hollywood features a majority, it needs to secure yet another 5% off their Residents,regardless of its majority election.Typically, seats on settling committees were based on Division/Local earnings. Thatwould forget about be true. The Best Choice can certainly choose individuals with National Boardapproval. People producing almost all revenue on specific contracts won' more beguaranteed majority say on people settling committees.EXCHANGE OF INFORMATIONThe unions haven't exchanged actor contract particulars. We have not a clue how-what-when-whyAFTRA provides residuals in made-for-fundamental cable shows or other credits tomanagement.AGENTSIf merged, the Board, without any member election, can alone decide whether agents can own or beowned by production organizations. The SAG membership rejected the ultimate agent agreementbecause from the potential conflict of curiosity.Deciding STRENGTHSAG and AFTRA are actually settling with each other since 1981. How has that accomplished good results SAGmembers? AFTRA has routinely undercut SAG interests. A merger of stars is the fact that isnecessary. This merger essentially handcuffs SAG.CONCLUSIONThe current merger plan solves alongside nothing and adds lots of natural problems. Election NOand demand our union leaders conduct the needed research to create an agreementwhich will not harm stars.To acquire more information http://internet.sagminorityreport.com/internet.sagaftraminorityreport.comIn Solidarity:Scott Bakula Erection dysfunction HarrisJoe d'Angerio Anne-Marie JohnsonElliott Gould David JolliffeValerie Harper Martin Sheen Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com