Unite For Strength Aims to Merge SAG and AFTRA

Isn’t it a lovely day for a merger, dear?

How many times have you heard people say that they wish the performers unions SAG and AFTRA would merge?

The Screen Actors Guild is in the midst of electing a number of new members to the SAG Board of Directors, and fortunately for those in favor of merger, there is a slate of 31 television stars, journeymen, background performers, stunt performers, and voice over artists who are gunning for just that as they run for seats on the Screen Actors Guild Board of Directors.

Unite For Strength desires to unite performers at the bargaining table once and for all.

In a recent interview, Unite For Strength candidate, Edoardo Ballerini told VOX Daily “Unite for Strength has the primary goal of merging SAG and AFTRA. We believe it is in everybody’s best interest, and that all other issues pale in comparison right now. Our employers have been merging nearly every year and we should be, too.”

For being called a dissenting voice by some, Unite For Strength is backed by a number of high profile actors of renown and admirable repute including giants such as Sally Field, Tom Hanks, Alec Baldwin, and Don LaFontaine, and with their support will take a number of seats, if not seat all of the Unite For Strength candidates on the SAG Board of Directors.

Ballerini continues, “I am heartened not only that we have ‘big names’ behind us, but who those names are. Tom, Sally, Alec and Don are not only stars, but they are respected and respectful individuals. Their support is rooted in remembering just how important a union is to the non-stars, the people who need residuals to live, and a stable Pension & Health plan for their families. It’s important to understand that both sides on this election want the same thing - the best deals for performers. What we differ in is how to achieve these deals. Our supporters believe merging SAG and AFTRA will make that happen far faster than warring between the two unions ever could.”

The Unite For Strength Slate includes:

• Richard Speight, Jr.
• L. Scott Caldwell
• Assaf Cohen
• Ned Vaughn
• Tim DeKay
• Clyde Kusatsu
• Ken Howard
• Pamela Reed
• Amy Brenneman
• Michelle Allsopp
• Googy Gress
• Steve Tom
• Bob Bergen
• Kate Walsh
• Gabrielle Carteris
• Edoardo Ballerini
• Fred Fein
• Adam Arkin
• William Charlton
• Anthony Molinari
• Mandy Steckelberg
• Tom Verica
• Marcia Wallace
• Ashley Crow
• Stacey Travis
• Doug Savant
• Bill Smitrovich
• Matt Letscher
• Keith Szarabajka
• Dulé Hill
• John Carroll Lynch

Unite For Strength also endorses independent candidates Susan Boyd Joyce and Morgan Fairchild.

To learn more about Unite For Strength, visit their website.

Source: VOX Daily