AFTRA Votes for Merger With SAG

Members of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists have approved a plan to join ranks with the Screen Actors Guild, pushing their proposed merger one step closer to reality.

Of 28,311 ballots cast, 67.66% were in support of the merger. The plan still must win at least 60% of the votes cast by SAG’s membership. SAG is expected to announce its results late today.

Backers of the proposed union--which would put television and film actors under one roof with news broadcasters and radio disc jockeys--say it would offer more bargaining muscle and avert labor turf battles.

Opponents fear it would be too diverse to function effectively and say the new union blueprint places a heavy burden on struggling actors who can ill-afford the expected dues increase or additional competition from new members.

About 40,000 performers hold memberships in both unions. AFTRA officials said the ballots in their referendum represented a 40% turnout, and SAG’s leadership said it would probably report about the same figure for its membership.