Prominent SAG Members File Lawsuit Against Potential AFTRA Merger

Actor's unions SAG and AFTRA are on the verge of a merger, but a handful of prominent SAG members filed a lawsuit yesterday in an attempt to keep the two groups from joining forces. NBC Los Angeles reports that Martin Sheen, Ed Harris and Nancy Sinatra are among the members upset about the potential merge. They say in their lawsuit that SAG didn't do due diligence in ensuring that members will keep their health insurance and pensions.

The plaintiffs are in the minority, though -- the two unions have already signed off on the merger and ballots are being mailed to members this month.

In a statement, SAG did not address the question of health benefits and pension but did say that members have been informed of the merger and have had a chance to voice their opinion already.

"This filing is simply a public relations stunt that follows a clear pattern by some of the plaintiffs of filing unsuccessful lawsuits against their own union," they wrote. "We do not believe that the members will be fooled."