One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Prominent SAG Members File Lawsuit Against Potential AFTRA Merger
Image via Facebook
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."
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
