The statement did not go into detail as to what those issues are. Both unions have been tightlipped regarding the specifics of merger, including how a new union would be structured, what its name would be, and how its formation would impact the unions' pension and health plans.
Speaking to Back Stage in August, prior to the committees' second official meeting, Howard noted that the pension and health plans are independent organizations whose trustees are appointed by the unions and employers. "Once we have merged, they have a fiduciary responsibility to do what is best for them and for the union," Howard said. "And so I'm very confident that what they will do, therefore, will be very effective and very good for us." He also emphasized that vested pensions are protected by federal law. "That can't go away," he said.
The SAG-Producers Pension and Health Plans this week announced increases to the minimum earnings required to qualify for participation. The plans cited the weakness of the financial markets and recent declines in employer contributions from scripted network prime-time television as motivating factors for the hikes. AFTRA has, in recent years, grown to dominate network prime time, creating a jurisdictional battle that Howard indicated could be solved by merger. "Finally all of that revenue is coming into place" post-merger, he said, "and can be dealt with under one big organization."
A formal plan to merge SAG and AFTRA is expected to be finalized early next year. It will then be presented to the unions' respective boards of directors for approval, then to members for a ratification vote.
