Actors Get Deep With The Issues: Arye Gross, John Kassir, And Dana K On Merger Of Acting Unions

The SAG-AFTRA Merger Vote is upcoming.

We, actors, have about a month to really scope out this impossible (to pick through, sensibly) information.

With an understanding enough about the points on both sides, in the least, to be able to vote on this SAG-AFTRA merger; because it’s serious. This may be the most important actor-vote that will affect the future of all who have an acting career. Affecting professional actors now, and those actors who will become professionals in the future.

This vote could make it impossible to become an actor in the future. It could wind up making an actor’s union too expensive to join. Who knows? We know nothing specific or concrete, and SAG isn’t being specific. (Yes, for those actors who are asking: possibly more impossible than it is to become one now.) And there is no divorcing once we marry the unions, it’s permanent. We need to get some real facts.

I’ve gotten a lot more practical than I was when I was much younger; life has taught me to be. I need some real facts.

I’m working on that really difficult small print stuff, and the evasions….Not easy.  I was hoping I could ask some bright friends who could share their information. if they were informed.

John Kassir, who is a friend on Facebook, and someone I know for years…posted a pro-Merger statement on his Facebook page. On his comments section below it, I jumped in…

John Kassir (Tales From The Crypt, etc.)

Admittedly, I’ve been avoiding the SAG-AFTRA merger discussion, since about 2009.

I’ve been avoiding covering it here on Hollywood Actor Prep because it’s near impossible to write about in a comprehensible form. The SAG-AFTRA Merger is rife with arguments which are not connected in their opposition, PR sugarcoating and generalizing (which turns facts to fiction; and wishful fantasy seem factual), loads of ugly mudslinging between the two side. What’s worst, especially for me because it becomes my job to dissect, contrast, and explain, is that it is a conflict comprised of so many layers, that 99% of us don’t understand all of it, and some of us fear that the unknown is critical to know now, as it may be the most critical information of all. (Potentially biting us in the back hard, later.)Add in: a slew of legal rules, union rules, and financial mumbo-jumbo that doesn’t boil down to, easy to comprehend, dollars-and-cents.

The legalese is so dense, it’s is hard for non-lawyers to understand what it really says. The different translations have become a part of the dissension. At this point, the war between the actor factions have turned many actors away from it altogether; and uh, most actors turned away way back, in 2008.

There’s all kinds of other stuff that gets in the way, as well. (That is, when actors are paying attention to this giant history making change. That’s what it is, this actor union merger. Joining SAG and AFTRA.

I’m not choosing sides. I lean, and I go with them most information that can make more sense. I’m of a scientific mind, meaning I expect proof, in matters to be decided. (It goes with my working class, bootstrap, mentality; some may call it brains, others may call it wisdom of experience, others would say it’s depression. I am also a bit of a skeptic, don’t give out my trust easily, and admittedly, Pollyannas can appear vapid, to me.

I’m into open discussion, blatancy (is that a word?) and stone hard facts. Most of all, I want a point vs point discussion (without the sales, PR, and wishful thinking.)

I haven’t seen anything add up from the Merger side yet. But I want to. And I’ve been promised to receive it soon.

I hope to put a point by point chart of the most important points to consider. Brass knuckles style. If I can get it, from both sides, and if I have the time as well. (You may have noticed, if you are a ‘regular’ here, that I have been taking more personal time of late. Making some stronger boundaries in my own personal life and toward my goals.)

Here’s the discussion, directly cut-and-pasted, from Facebook. John Kassir’s personal page. I was writing from my personal page, not Hollywood Actor Prep’s on Facebook… (Thus: my name spell change.)

Also featured in this discussion is Arye Gross (Minority Report, and too many more theatre, film, and TV creds to list), and Hiram Kasten (who is a stand up comic in addition to being working actor, and a member of both unions), Malcolm Danare (working, voting actor and playwright).

Actor Arye Gross

Actor Malcolm Danare

Actor and standup comedian Hiram Kasten

I’m putting the whole debate. And when I hear more from Arye, I’ll post that too. From Facebook:

Jonathan Schmock and 21 others like [John Kassir's post, under which the following comments originally appeared.  John's post is printed below the test of this debate, in comments, here.]

Actor 1: I’m voting yes!22 hours ago ·

John Kassir Thanks [Actor 1]! This can be worked out, we just need to move forward and stop holding on to the old version, the studios are keeping up with the times in solidarity and we are not! Thats the bottom line!22 hours ago ·

Actor 1 Well hey if it helps solidify the unions then I’m all for it. 22 hours ago ·
Actor 2 always stand together:)22 hours ago · Like · 1

Hiram Kasten thanks, John….i was one of those who was against the merger BUT i have come aboard….it just does not make sense any more to be apart. Times will get rougher and we need strangth on our side……I must urge others , who used to feel tthe way i used to, to drop it and come aboard…….Vote YES For MERGER. 22 hours ago · Like 3

Actor 3Yes yes a million times yes! 22 hours ago

John Kassir Thanks Hiram and Actor 3…you are so right! 21 hours ago

Dana Kaminsky I will post this on my actors blog, if you don’t mind. However, John, THIS Dana feels a bit more prudent about the sitch. First, shouldn[‘t we get all the insider financial conflicts investigated first,a nd resolved–those that are worrying the opponents? I think the opponents really only want the deeper problems resolved, so that there isn’t a terrible problem/s, due to impulsivity.21 hours ago · Like · 1

Dana Kaminsky THEN, once there is a merger, I would hope that the unions would expand some, in their duties, if possible. So that they can help actors in more ways than they do already. (Outside the box, but very necessary.) Like 1

Arye Gross Dana, when you say “insider financial conflicts” what are you referring to? 21 hours ago ·

Malcolm Danare Thanks for the post JK… Was voting “Yes” all along. I’m just worried that (name removed), is still looking over Arye’s shoulder. 21 hours ago · Like · 1

Actor 4 i am voting yes but i have serious concerns about health and pension – though i am in both of these unions but not currently working the past several years, i expect to again (in my old age! can anyone say ‘lipitor’ ‘depends’ and ‘grandma’ ?? omfg.. will it come to that?) ..SAG has been the stronger union with better (affordable, qualifying, cobra etc) healthcare, better contracts, and though the infighting has been disastrous the past few decades w/in SAG.. i think AFTRA has muscled its way into TV by allowing producers to by pass SAG shows (2008 anyone?) and go for the lower cost and wages etc to the detriment of actors – i fear we are screwed on all fronts whichever way we choose/vote to go, so i am opting to support the merger too- BTW johnny, since u have loads of FB friends i will probably delete this once my email starts to be nailed from everyone posting as well – but i’ll read ‘em- thx for posting you feelings on the matter.21 hours ago · Like 1

John Kassir Thanks for writing Dana Kaminsky! There are definitely things we would all like worked out and answers for questions we have… and if you read the proposal, etc. you will see our SAG board have tried diligently to do that….we have to realize that we can make a lot of these issues happen in the way we want them “because” we merge and the ones that are failing will just continue to weaken if we don’t…so yeah..some of these answers won’t come til after we merge…it will be us as a union that decides them! I went to meetings of those who have come out in opposition to merger, because I wanted answers. There were many folks like me who were there for answers as well….some of us got answers after the proposal, and merger material was released by our SAG board and some of us realized that some of the opposition was just plain against merger and was playing us against our fears like they did in 2003 and 2008. I think they would like to see AfTRA disenfranchised, which of course is just not gonna happen…this is our best shot and we can together form our future like the creators of SAG originally did! If you have specific questions after reading the merger material on the SAG site, let me know and I will point you to someone who can do their best to answer them for you!21 hours ago · Like

Actor 6 Yes. Yes. And yes…..21 hours ago · Like · 1

John Kassir Thanks (Actor 6) ! We would hope that we would all decide to pick the stronger Health and retirement choices as a new merged union …SAG and AFTRA plans will definitely weaken if we don’t merge..that’s for sure..we can already see it happening in the amount of copays and premiums, so I think merging is definitely the way to keep our plans up with the best of todays times! Thanks, Love you, Johnny21 hours ago · Like · 1

Dana Kaminsky Arye– I will find some info on the net, that would be a much better explanation than I can give…Will do later today or tomorrow…20 hours ago

Arye Gross Great, thanks Dana; looking forward to it! 20 hours ago · Like

Actor7 whoa….that would be soooo cool to be a part of SAG or AFTRA…(looks at He-man action figure collection) dont worry guys, we’ll make it one day! good luck with the merger mission John!20 hours ago · Like · 1

John Kassir Good luck (Actor 7) … I hope you’re a member of our new union Sag-Aftra in the near future!18 hours ago · Like · 1

Actor 8 JK, I know noththing of the sides of the debate but I admire your decision to take a side. In a time where it is easy to play the middle it is refreshing to see someone…anyone… make a stand on any debate. Too many people don’t want to commit publicly.Bravo to you!18 hours ago · Like ·” 1

Hiram Kasten ‎@john K: thanks for sharing your interest and advocacy……17 hours ago · Like · 1

Actor 5 YES!16 hours ago ·

Dana Kaminsky LIsten, it all sounds great. Just to be clear, I am all for actors having more power. (I also paid two sets of union dues yearly,a and had two separante helath plans at times, so I understand the $ reasons for one union.)15 hours ago · Like

Dana Kaminsky ‎1. I have not seen any indication of either union separately standing up against the studios. If you have any examples please change my skeptism around for me. Doesn’t mean I won’t back a great cause, but the whole fantasy of this one union has to start with some union representative, on some team, sticking their neck out and opening their mouth against the power. Have you seen that? 15 hours ago · Like

Dana Kaminsky ‎2. Why on earth would someone like Scott (Wilson) or Tom Bower want to destroy AFTRA?Arew you certain of this? You are skewering the integrity of their position, and of them personally. My experience of their intentions is not to do away with AFTRA. IT’s not to keep us all paying double dues either. THey do voiceovers…15 hours ago ·

I posted this excerpt from a website that had some of the math. The numbers are important to me, in terms of dollars and in terms of members and what we, ACTORS, get in a numerical equation for that, because it’s specific and ‘on paper’. It’s not a future projection, imaginary. I am not afraid of imagination; I’m an actor, I love it. But I’ve already gambled my life on an acting career, and that’s especially why we need a concrete prospectus before we make any decision or rash judgment. Because that’s a rash move.

And when I say actors, I mean ALL actors. All union actors anyway. Not just those who are looking for the merger to fix something in the short term, or that affects only one small portion of union actors’ specific individual needs. (Which I sense is happening a lot.) There’s a lot of variance of actors involved, and what is good for a subsections can be lethal to the careers of larger percentages.

That’s another reason why I am asking for specifics, in order to weigh the real facts. If it’s possible in the PR, marketing, warring-sides of a campaign we are enmeshed in, on the actor-planet, right now.

So I posted this, originally published as a rebuttal to SAG’s yes-to-merger side…John has since removed it from his Facebook wall. (I’m not offended, Arye and I got into a debate that took over Kassir’s comment section for a good while. I will show you what John Kassir put originally on his wall, which I commented on, originally. It’s what started this whole discussion. Both he and Arye Gross are pro-Merger, which I see now. I asked some hard questions. Some things were left up in the air. If John Kassir originally had intended to convince some fans to vote yes to a merger, my questions to Arye may have thwarted John’s intention on his own wall! Apologies, John, if I did.

“

PENSION & HEALTH

SAG relies upon a “Feasibility Review.” While it concluded that a merger would be legal, no
one ever doubted Mergers are legal. What about our benefits?

SAG did not request any actuarial study regarding whether a merger would be financially safe.
Why? They know, like the AFTRA Trustees, that “the merger of pension and health funds as
large and divergent as the AFTRA and SAG plans raises complex and unique financial, legal
and benefit issues which can only be addressed through a comprehensive analysis performed
by the funds.”

Despite the express statements in Appendix I to the SAG Constitution, and Board Resolutions,
no study was conducted to assess the financial impact of a merger of Pension or Health Plans.
Are your benefits safe? The SAG and AFTRA P&H&R Plans are extremely different. Consider
merging these factors:

• SAG pension accrual rate: 2% of earnings: AFTRA: less than 1% of earnings.
• SAG early retirement penalty: 3% per year. AFTRA: DOUBLE: 6% per year.
• SAG Plan 2 annual premium (family of four): $1,620: AFTRA Individual Plan annual premium
(family of 4): $17,260

The merger plan does not even attempt to reconcile these and other differences. Experts
addressing the financial impact issues are convinced SAG members will likely suffer
diminished future benefits.

Highly respected pension and health experts Brucker & Morra have concluded:
“Until a full and formal ERISA Impact Report of how to address and
quantify these problems is completed, no one, not even pension
experts, can intelligently evaluate or quantify the probable negative
impact on the members’ pension and health benefits. The union
merger is so inextricably interconnected with the plan merger that
members cannot be asked to evaluate and vote on the Union Merger until
issues relating to the Plan Merger have been resolved and concrete
proposals formulated so the members can make informed choices.”

The issue has always been the impact on SAG member benefits, when merged with lower
AFTRA benefits. If the merger of unions is approved, SAG members will never have any
right to vote to protect their benefits by preventing merger of the Pension or Health Plans.
If you vote to merge the unions, you are removing a major hurdle to later merger of those plans.
Once the unions are merged, individual members will have no vote and no recourse regarding a
merger of Pension and Health Plans.

Arye Gross Dana, I’m going to try to respond as best I can to the concerns you raise in the posts above…13 hours ago ·

Arye Gross ‎”Dana Kaminsky 1. I have not seen any indication of either union separately standing up against the studios.” The problem here has been that if one Union holds firm on a bargaining point, the AMPTP just goes to the Other Union to make the deal…example AFTRA makes a deal on New Media (based on the DGA deal at the time) if SAG doesn’t accept those terms, ALL new media goes to AFTRA, SAG has no deal and no jurisdiction at all. “So what” one might say, “if they want SAG Actors, they’ve got to make a deal with SAG”…the only problem here is that most of the AFTRA members ARE SAG Actors. Whenever you have two unions representing the same group of Employees to the same group of Employers it puts downward pressure on Wages, Working conditions, and Benefits for both Unions. Thats why we need to Merge, and why we’ll have more clout at the bargaining table: because they will only have one shop to come to for Professional Actors.  13 hours ago ·

Arye Gross‎2. Why would Scott or T. Bower want to destroy AFTRA? I think because they feel that without AFTRA there would be no jurisdictional competitor, the only problem is that we tried to go to war with AFTRA in 2008 and what happened? We lost over $100 Million in revenue and almost all new TV since then has gone to AFTRA. The law of unintended consequences certainly came into play, and we (SAG) took a total drubbing…And the idea that we can get the American Federation of TELEVISION and Radio Artists out of the Television business is, I think, naive at best. We don’t have any labor law that supports this idea, the members don’t want it, it would be a waste of the memberships treasury to attempt it, and its just crazy. ;} And we’ll be stronger if we merge, instead of going to WAR. 13 hours ago ·

Dana Kaminsky Who wants to put AFTRA out of business? I haven’t heard about that. It was AFTRA who doublecrossed in 2008 wasn[‘t it? All the actors. It sounds as if you are saying it’s either beat em or join em. If it’s that basic–okay. BUt there’s goi…See More
13 hours ago · Like

Arye Gross regarding the PH/HR issue…You know that neither Union has the ability to commission the Actuarial Study (you say so at the beginning of your post) but then question why the Guild didn’t do the study? The answer to the why is in your quote…See More
13 hours ago · Like

Arye Gross Phase 1 to Merger (Appendix I to the SAG Constitution) was nullified in 2008. So none of its conditions apply. 12 hours ago · Like

Arye Gross Neither SAG (nor AFTRA, for that matter) members “control” the Pension Plans: the Trustees of the respective Plans have control, always have, and will continue to do so, merger or not. The recommendations that Merger will strengthen the Pla…See More
12 hours ago · Like

Arye Gross and I’d double check those health insurance figures you’ve posted: they are incorrect…12 hours ago · Like

Dana Kaminsky These are not my quotes: I was providing a passage that I copied and pasted from a website called “SAG Watchdog”. I posted the link below it.12 hours ago · Like

Arye Gross aaah…I should have just posted this.. http://www.sagaftra.org/files/sagaftra/referendum_joint_boards_booklet_0.pdf   12 hours ago · Like

Malcolm Danare Hi Dana! Arye, I’ve never seen you write so much on Facebook!! 12 hours ago · Like

Dana Kaminsky Easy,easy. You asked me about my comment earlier, Arye. As if you were interested in finding something out, or so it seemed to me. If you already knew these answers, and your question was actually rhetorical, then it was something I misunderstood. I didn’t realize that I was jumping into a powderkeg. Or target practice, i.e. “If you really are interested” etc.12 hours ago · Like

Arye Gross Yeah, Dana, I was responding to your post (which I guess was the Watchdog repost) but i am still curious about the “insider financial conflicts” you mentioned12 hours ago · Like

Dana Kaminsky If it’s possible, great. If you think it’s going to make actors have a stronger stance, great. I still say I will believe it when I see it. No strength now, separate. No reason to think that joining unions will make a difference. But golly, if only it could be true. If you say that the pensions etc are no issue, and can be resolved great. Combined dues instead of actors paying double, terrific.12 hours ago · Like · 2

Arye Gross Dana, I believe the ability for actors to make a living, and get benefits like pensions and health insurance, are completely dependent upon merger of these unions.12 hours ago · Like

Arye Gross And Malcolm, This is why I’m writing so much on FaceBook; so you’ll have health insurance…12 hours ago ·

Arye Gross ‎(which you’re going to neeeeed..)12 hours ago ·

Dana KaminskyProblem is: most actors throw up their hands and step away from it.12 hours ago · Like

Dana Kaminsky I really get that, Arye. I do. And I appreciate your activism and passion. I do. I think if you could simplify it to terms/points that the general actor might understand, then that would be a big service to many. (And ‘d so gladly publish it.) And if the SAGWatchdogs numbers are wrong, please write him and let him know. I will be recommending that link as one of a few. 12 hours ago · Like

Hiram Kasten Well: john, or Arye, I am concerned over Dana’s concern regarding eligibilty rates(for health) for a family of 4…Always was concerned about this re: a merger…..everybody has told me this was all worked oout…….The opposition, where I once was, often said the devil was in the details. It is imperitive to straighten out once and for all the health and retirement minimums if Merged with AfTRA……..some “middle class actors” likmyself, still can miss the minimum some times as th rates go up and the work goes down. Pension credits are not as easy for some to garner any longer ……will somebody please illucidate…3 hours ago · Like

John Kassir ‎Dana Kaminsky…I think my post at the start of this conversion is about as clear and concise as we can get….We have the power and ability to form our future and create the best chance to taking on the challenges of our industry (including health and pension) as one union and not split and competing against our own interests. No matter what decision an individual can make, it can always be debated by the other side, so the more cohesive we are as one union, the more chance we have of forming results that work for us…….about an hour ago · Like

John Kassir to ‎Hiram Kasten Please read the merger material on the SAG website, because there are a LOT of false statements out there to get a rise out of people just like you and I, who have concerns about their health and pension. We are all concerned about our eligibility rates whether we merge or not. Yes, the Aftra plan is more expensive than the SAG plan at this time, but you will see that the SAG plan is getting more and more expensive every year because of the loss of jobs going to AFTRA! I’m going to requote myself from above: “We would hope that we would all decide to pick the stronger (and more cost effective) Health and retirement choices as a new merged union …SAG and AFTRA plans will definitely weaken if we don’t merge..that’s for sure..we can already see it happening in the amount of copays and premiums, so I think merging is definitely the way to keep our plans up with the best of todays times!” We’ll lose our ability to keep either of our health plans affordable if we don’t merge ….about an hour ago · Unlike ·

John Kassir PS: Why would anyone assume, WE as actors in one union, would decide to pick the weaker of two plans as a model for our future instead of the stronger!!? Or any issue in regard to our union choices? We have the opportunity to form the best e can get, instead of watching what exists continue to go backwards….I sincerely hopes this helps to put it into some perspective……..about an hour ago ·

Arye Gross Dana Kaminsky, thanks. and thanks for providing an avenue for actors to get information on this other relevant topics. Wishing you all the best, Arye Gross about an hour ago · Unlike · 1

Arye Gross ‎”this and other” (sigh)about an hour ago ·

Dana Kaminsky May work on getting some solid answers from both sides, Hiram, on my blog (Hollywood Actor Prep). Wish we could do a chart to chart comparison of specific issues at conflict. To m, it’s been something I have covered, esp in 2008. But for myself (and because I write for free) its a loud loaded issue with many legal and financial ramifications that make it too hard to comprehend. Also, the majority of actors, union or not, are too busy trying to get an acting job. Those not yet in the unions can’t foresee down the road enough to be interested, it seems. The actors who are interested because they see it affecting their future are middle class actors. And older actors (because they care and are activitst types, and have personal stake.) Mid-class actors aren’t truly middle class in acting career. THey who are a small subset of actors who work often enough to be easily covered by health plan. (Women actors must ber a small percentage of covered actors in SAGs health plan. Maybe AFTRA too.)4 hours ago · Like
 

Dana Kaminsky Arye–I would appreciate SOOooo much, if you or John could get some me some “numbers” for Health and Pension, from the Merger side. I know you stated Arye that the numbers on Sagwatchdog.com are incorrect. Would you please get me some that you know are more accurate. In terms of numbgers? So I can place tehm side-by-side? THANK YOU. (I am just an info disseminator!)4 hours ago · Like
 

Arye Gross Hiram, ultimately the strength and accessibility of our benefit plans are a function of our ability to successfully negotiate with the Producers (who fund the Plans). We will be in a far stronger position to defend and enrich (thus making it more accessible to more actors) the plans if we are One Union. As long as we’re split and contributions to the plans are divided, it will become more and more difficult for most to get benefits; higher earnings minimums to get a pension credit or qualify for Health Insurance, and higher premiums when and if we do qualify. And thats what’s been happening over the past several years precisely because we failed to merge in 2003. 4 hours ago · Like
 


Dana Kaminsky John–Was that to me, the comment about why anyone would assume that actors don’t do their homework on this issue? YES, I am certain that most actors either can’t comprehend the important and deeper issues here, don’t care to, or have walked away from it if they WERE once interested. The financial stuff, the official rules and guild governing laws (legal), and the unknowns/future are too difficult to navigate. The ugliness of the fight has turned many actors away., MERGER has a real edge though. Most actors don’t get health care, and aren’t at a place in thier life where they consider a pension, whether or not they have one. (Majority of union actors aren’t vested, I’d guess.) Union dues are a real beeatch for most actors to afford. Promising one dues , is wonderful for many two union-actors. As is the promise of more “actor-power” in the industry –that gives the Merger side much more juice. (Again< i say I don’t see that as a solid probability as outcome.)4 hours ago · Like
 

Dana Kaminsky Please send whatever nuts and bolts data or numbers you may have or have issue with. I will be your biggest flagwaver if I can be shown how this is a certain benefit for actors, on paper. 4 hours ago · Like


Arye Gross Hi Dana, I’ve got to deal with some life stuff for a while, but I’ll be back with 411 for you. Cheers! 4 hours ago · Like
 

Dana Kaminsky With the numbers. Again, I am just providing both sides, point by point. That is, if and when I can get both sides of each issue, point by point. In numbers, financial terms, dollars and cents. I’m not counting on this, but some evidence of someone like Reardon/Howard sticking his/her neck on the chopping block for actors–or any actor representative doing such, would be a great addition too. Really going on the mat to demand something solely for the benefit of actors. Would be appreciated as a way to show how it’s gonna unfold in the future. 1+1 does not equal actor power, when individually, self-interest may interfere already. Or nicey nicey.4 hours ago · Like
 

John Kassir Dana, Let me clarify….I wasn’t saying they don’t do their homework…I was saying why would people assume that anyone would choose a “weaker” plan as a model for our future health and retirement plan (Aftra) to (SAG) “stronger”….Ultimately difference in current numbers of the two plans don’t matter if we merge, because we will create the best we can come up with as one new union…we will have trustees, just like we do now for our current health and pension plan. SAG is headed to a weaker plan like AFTRA’s if we don’t merge…that’s just the reality of health care these days…we really can’t know what will happen to health care in this day and age. It’s a BIG issue in America right now, but we do know this … we have an extremely better source to fund our heath AND pension plans if we merge and pool our producers contributions into one union! And can negotiate the best plans with Management and health care providers as a larger group…3 hours ago · Unlike · 1
 

John Kassir Let’s try to remember…the entire SAG board are working actors, who have the same fears about future as the rest of us and are doing what they can to preserve their interests as actors as well as ours…it’s why they were voted in by an 80% margin…3 hours ago · Like
 

Dana Kaminsky Yes. I am not segregating my comments to AFTRA alone. I hope it doesn’t seem so. I do believe that there is a conflict in actors representing actors. I can’t see how activism against the powers that hire doesn’t conflict with individual need of an actor wanting not to jeopardize an acting career. It’s a different discoussion. Alomst. Except that when joining up for more power is mentioned :1 wussie plus 1 wussie equals two wussies.3 hours ago · Like
 

Dana Kaminsky I am not calling anyone specific a wussie, btw. I am using it for the sake of demonstrating my point by algebraic equation. Such as:  n=wussie as symbol of weakening of actor activism, due to professional acting conflicts, and other pressures.  3 hours ago · Like
 

Dana Kaminsky This is a great discussion. For me. (Is it as good for you?) Thanks very much Arye, John, Hiram for digging in; and to Malcolm for participating in his extremely Malcolm-like way!

******

John Kassir’s original Facebook post that I responded to:

“TO ALL MY SAG AND AFTRA FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES :
The Time is now to take our future in our own hands! Actors and performers from our past made huge sacrifices to set up unions for us. As a result, actors like myself have a decent wage, health & pension, and working conditions we would definitely not have otherwise! With two unions splitting our work and benefits, this current work model (our pastindustry brethren set up for us), is in jeopardy! We are losing negotiating power, financial strength in our health and pension, and solidarity amongst our creative side of the industry! It is my absolute recommendation to vote YES FOR MERGER!!! This can be an exciting time for us to create a working model for the future of those who already have helped secure a place in our end of the industry and for those who hope to do it in the future. Be an active part of our history to come! VOTE YES FOR SAG-AFTRA!!!
If there are any questions you may have that are not answered clearly in the proposal…I will personally help to find you the answer, but please read it and make an informed decision for yourselves…don’t leave it up to others one-sided points of view!
Thank you, much love and respect,
John”

LINKS FOR ACTORS–WEBSITES WITH SAG-AFTRA MERGER INFORMATION

These sites present both sides, the different perspectives on the SAG-AFTRA Merger. Some of these links are  are in the comments above, but I’m posting them again to make it easy for you to look up some of the information.

I will also keep posting about this, all through the month before the vote. (That’s right now, btw.) I’ll be posting SAG-AFTRA information that’s easier to understand, point-vs-point stuff, and also post what others are saying. I want us all to be as educated as we can so that we can all come to the right decision. I won’t make a decision for anyone, but I will work to present both sides, as clearly and thoroughly as I can. And as simply, as frankly, as expediently as I can.

I’ll sift out the ridiculous mudslinging, too.

FOR THE MERGER – LINKS

SAGAFTRA.org

 specifically: http://www.sagaftra.org/files/sagaftra/referendum_joint_boards_booklet_0.pdf  

SAG.org   Yes, SAG’s representatives are, in majority, pro-merger. The pro-merger party was voted in in the last election, by the voting, SAG actor, members.

AGAINST MERGER OF SAG AND AFTRA- LINKS

SagWatchdog.com/wp/

http://www.ru4sagmerger.com/

Tom Bower has info on his Facebook page.

Best,

Dana

Inform fellow actors: share please.

Updated Wednesday 2-22-12 6:10 PM

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