When you ask “Unite For Strength” their plan for SAG. They think they know. In fact, they are so sure they know that they proudly sum it up in one word MERGER.
But when they are questioned beyond that single one-word solution, and are faced with specific questions on merger, they don’t seem to have specific answers---and the reason for that is that THEY DON’T KNOW! THEY REALLY DON’T KNOW!
How will they accomplish MERGER when two attempts have failed in the last decade alone?
They don’t know!
The last attempt cost AFTRA and SAG members well over $ FOUR MILLION DOLLARS! So, how much of members dues’ money will they have to spend this time?
They don’t know!
If a multitude of administrations, over those three decades, were not able to accomplish merger, why will THEY be successful?
They don’t know!
How will THEY merge both pension plans, when trustees said to do so would NOT be beneficial to SAG participants?
They don’t know!
What would they call this NEW union?
They don’t know!(However, UFS spokesman Ned Vaughn flippantly suggested calling it “Uncle Joe’s Actor’s Union.” And went on to say the name didn’t matter!)
And what would they do when those thousands of non-actor broadcasters refuse to abide by Rule One?
They don’t know!
And do they think actors would abide by Rule One while they watched thousands of broadcasters turn their noses up at it?
They don’t know!
And after this merger, when actors and broadcasters are in this new union together, what would happen if our high-profile actors emulated fellow high-profile broadcaster members, and, also, started doing non-union work?
They don’t know!
And don’t they think that once this NEW UNION was merged that producers would demand new contracts for this new union, contracts that merged the higher SAG rates with the lower AFTRA rates?
They don’t know!
The only excuse UFS gives for merger is that it would give actors leverage by stopping the two unions from competing against each other. But are they really competing, or is AFTRA basically trying to extort SAG, and its members,into capitulating, and agreeing to merger by poaching SAG actor contracts using inferior minimums and residual giveaways? Do they know of ONE AFTRA contract where AFTRA has gotten a better deal for actors than SAG?
They don’t know! (For a good reason. There isn’t one!)
Aren’t there other less expensive and more palatable ways to get all actors under one roof other than another failed merger attempt?
They don’t know!
Well, we do know! There are other ways! Instead of rewarding AFTRA’s predatory methods,how about letting actors decide their future by letting them vote in referendumon who they want to represent them in acting contracts. NOW THERE’S A NOVEL IDEA! Actors deciding their fate! And, if they had that chance would they pick the Screen Actors Guild?
We do Know! They would! In the early Fifties, when a similar jurisdictional dispute arose between SAG and AFTRA, SAG took it to the NLRB, petitioning for a vote on the matter. The voting took place, and SAG won overwhelmingly! Actors voted for SAG then and they would do it now, because everyone knows that The Screen Actors Guild is THE actors union.
So, what will happen if the “Unite For Strength” slate wins the election?
They don’t know!
And more importantly...
SAG MEMBERS DON’T KNOW EITHER!
A.L. Miller SW Editor & Chief
www.sagwatchdog.com
Oh, and it isn’t just merger. UFS complains about our current SAG negotiators, but when asked what they would do differently...you guessed it!
They don’t know!
Same for Qualified Voting! They did know. Why, they even pledged ”...We are NOT giving up...rest assured...we’ll keep fighting...!” But when they were advised that members weren’t likely to vote for candidates who pledged to take away their vote—they did the only sensible thing. They announced that they had gone back
on their word.
If you would like to check out a group of candidates THAT DO KNOW then go to the following website.
http://membershipfirst.com/
There is still time to vote. If you are against Qualified Voting and spending more of your dues money on merger then you better get your ballot in by 6:30 AM (PDT) September 18, 2008, or SAG Could end up with...
“MORE MEMBERS AND LESS VOTERS”
*The above post was based on the UFS mailer, flier, website and the Jonathan Handel interview with UFS Spokesperson Ned Vaughn. Below links to the UFS website and Mr. Vaughn’s interview. I invite you to check them out.
TARGET="_blank"> http://www.uniteforstrength.com/
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/look-at-la.
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Unite For Strength: “They don’t know! They really don’t know 
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