Dancing On The Grave Of #50 And On The Legacy Of A Spiritual Hymm

March 31, 2012 Posted by REJ

James Cagney: Iconic figure in the entertainment business and in the history of the Screen Actors Guild. Joined SAG in 1933 with the membership number of 50. Served on the board for 10 years, was a first vice president of SAG and later served as president from 1942 to 1944.

In 1933, high profile and highly compensated studio stars like Ralph Morgan, Eddie Cantor and James Cagney met secretly, in fear of retribution from studio heads, to create what was, prior to 2008, the most powerful and respected talent union in the world. Although their lives were threatened and property and careers damaged, they did not back down. They fought the good fight not just for their own needs but for those who could not or would not fight for themselves.

As an actor, James Cagney was known to look out for the “little guy.” On several occasions he would feign illness, leaving movie sets early in order to extend the shooting schedule to provide more working days for the lower wage earners in his cast and crew.

As SAG president, his life was repeatedly threatened when he refused to back down from attempts by the “mob” to turn Hollywood into their playground and 20th century ATM.

James  Cagney was not only a amazing actor, he was a true unionist who looked out for all actors, regardless of their station in life. He was afraid of no one. He loved actors and the acting profession. To Cagney it was a respectable, blue collar way to make a living. At the height of his career, he successfully sued Warner Brothers for breach of contract and was forever referred to by Jack Warner as the “Professional Againster.”

On March 30th, 2012, the Screen Actors Guild died. On March 30th, 1986, James Cagney died. On March 30th, 2012, those responsible for the death of SAG rejoiced in the James Cagney Board Room. Standing on “apple boxes” ( probably the first time Roberta Reardon ever saw an apple box), merger zealots cheered and shuffled with joy. They even sang the highly respected and treasured Negro spiritual, “We Shall Overcome.” No, we are not kidding. They actually had the nerve to sing a song that represents the horrific struggles African Americans experienced just to be considered equal in this country. This hymm/anthem, traditionally sung to calm the nerves and sooth the pain of those who witnessed lynchings, burnings and rapes stemming from pure racial hatred is not to be messed with. One can’t think of Martin Luther King Jr, Emmett Till, Medgar Evers, Rosa Parks, the March On Selma and the Freedom Riders without hearing the beautiful notes of”We Shall Overcome” in ones mind. But these idiots, these truly ignorant and out of touch phonies thought singing a hymm that is, at least in the African American community, as sacred as”God Bless America”, was appropriate and timely.

Newly elected SAG-AFTRA Executive Vice President Ned Vaughn, stated defiantly on March 30th, 2012, that James Cagney would be proud of what Vaughn and his partners in crime had achieved. He opined Cagney would have supported professional actors merging with news readers, reality stars, weather-casters and disc jockeys. James Cagney supporting a merger where a significant number of members will be allowed to earn a very comfortable living by working non union with impunity? We seriously doubt it.

Celebrating the death of SAG on the anniversary of the death of SAG’s 50th member and 3rd president, in the James Cagney Board Room, while singing a song that has been sung after the violent deaths of some of the most respected civil rights leaders in American History, by a cabal of arrogantly duplicitous and rank “unionist”, made many collectively regurgitate in their mouths.

To Ken Howard, Roberta Reardon, Ned Vaughn and all of the merger zombies who gathered in the James Cagney Board Room on March 30th, 2012, to congratulate themselves for creating what will soon be known as one of the most compliant, producer-friendly and fractured talent unions in recent history….  Leave James Cagney and “We Shall Overcome” alone. Please.

REJ

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Just Plan Tone Deaf!

March 29, 2012 Posted by REJ


This is the last time SAG and AFTRA tried to merger, the vote count was monitored and witnessed. NOT THIS TIME. 
Members from around the country were flown-in to Hollywood to make sure everything was on the up-and-up. NOT THIS TIME!
Any member was invited to observe the ballots being processed and counted and witness for themselves what was happening. NOT THIS TIME!
THIS TIME the ballots are being sent to Washington State – A thousand miles from the largest voting base in both unions. Far away from members’ eyes.
And even if a member could get  him/her self  to Everett Washington, they will NOT be allowed to witness anything!
Welcome to your new union.
Everything done in shadows.
NEVER let the “Leadership” EVER tell you again that they’re transparent!
What they HAVE proven is their complete LACK of transparency.
REJ
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Sheen V.S. “Individual” SAG Defendants Case Ruling Made Public

March 29, 2012 Posted by REJ

On March 28th, 2012, case # CV 12-01468 SJO (AJWx), was made public. Judge Otero ruled against the plaintiffs with regard to a preliminary injunction to delay the publicizing of the merger vote results until further SAG Constitutional and board resolution recommendations had been satisfied. Specifically, an actuarial study detailing the impact on SAG participants if a potential merging of SAG’s P&H plans with AFTRA’s H&R plans took place. Despite that loss, the plaintiffs were successful in their other claims, which leaves the door open for further legal challenges.

Below is the press release from the plaintiffs and their lawyer. To read the complete ruling document, please go to: www.SAGAFTRAMINORITYREPORT.com

We at ru4Sagmerger congratulate all of the plaintiffs, who took a chance and fought a righteous battle. We also congratulate David Casselman, Melisa Harnet, Jesse Levin, Kirk Comer and the entire law firm of Wasserman, Comden, Casselman and Esensten, for their diligence, skill and most of all, their faith in their clients. Bravo!

REJ

Press Release:

The Court issued a thoughtful, 25 page, single spaced opinion. It overrules the SAG defendants motion to strike the breach of fiduciary duty cause of action, seeking a recovery of attorney’s fees. It also rejects defendants motions to dismiss the federal breach of fiduciary duty claim, the California breach of fiduciary duty claim, the federal breach of contract claim and reserves jurisdiction to address all of those causes of action by trial on the merits. Therefore, the litigation continues on the merits, even though the Court declined to grant the requested preliminary injunction.
We are disappointed by the decision not to issue a preliminary injunction, but we are encouraged by the detail of the analysis of the Court. It includes specific findings allowing the lawsuit to proceed on the merits, including the right to recover damages and attorneys fees. Among other disputed issues, the Court considered the SAG claim that Appendix I was no longer in effect after March 29, 2008. After considering all of the evidence, the Court elected to “work under the assumption that Appendix I is in effect.”
At its core, the decision indicates that because of the efforts of the plaintiffs, the members had reason to know that no actuarial study was done analyzing the impact of a merger on their pension or health benefits. The Court found that members received ample information from the Plaintiffs Voter Information Packet and website to alert them to the absence of an actuarial study. To the extent that this lawsuit provided beneficial information to the members, it served a valuable purpose. Unfortunately, only time will tell whether or not the concerns brought to light by this litigation were heeded.

Our greatest concern is that a year from now, members who voted for the merger will find out that, as this lawsuit predicts, their pension and health benefits will be diminished and the split earnings issue will effectively continue. Members will still be unable to qualify for benefits because their combined earnings will likely have to exceed an increased earnings threshold. Plaintiffs continue to believe that the decision of the union not to conduct a professional, actuarial study, was done intentionally to hide those findings from a membership that needed to know the truth. The Court made no finding to the contrary.

The bottom line is the decision to press for merger, claiming that lawyers, not actuaries, could assure the members that their benefits will be safe, may well end up creating legal liability for the consequences of things to come. Assuming the merger passes and benefits decline as predicted, there is ample information in the record to justify class-action lawsuits against those responsible for inducing “yes” for merger votes. Hopefully, no member will be harmed as a result of what transpires. Only time will tell.
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Still Comfortable With Your “Yes On Merger” Vote?

March 23, 2012 Posted by REJ

Things are happening fast and furious. Will any of this have an impact on Judge Otero and his ruling regarding the Casselman federal law suit?…. Only Otero and his clerks know. All are awaiting the courts ruling which is expected any day now. But in the meantime, take a look at these new developments.

REJ

LA city attorney candidate takes on SAG Plan whistleblower case

In a sign that there is more here than meets the eye, prominent litigator Greg Smith, who has a long track record of winning large claims on behalf of fired public sector employees especially police officers and firemen, has taken on the case of Craig Simmons, the fired senior staff member of SAG’s pension and health plan.

According to a copy of the complaint posted on the site of Deadline Hollywood, Smith has filed a suit against the plan and as yet unnamed individuals for wrongful termination in connection with Simmons’ complaints about wrongdoing by the CEO of the $2 billion Plan, Bruce Dow, and others. Smith was profiled in the Los Angeles Times recently in connection with his campaign for the position of Los Angeles city attorney. Smith is joined in representing Simmons by Los Angeles attorney Robert Stanford Brown.  (Brown is the son of Hall of Fame football player Bob “The Boomer” Brown, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams and Oakland Raiders.)

The new lawsuit comes as SAG itself is being sued by its own members for failing to provide union members adequate information about the future of the pension and health care plan in connection with an ongoing vote to merge SAG with sister guild AFTRA. A decision on the latter suit is expected any day now as a planned hearing scheduled for Monday was recently vacated by the judge, which indicates that he is close to deciding the case based on the papers already in front of him. No doubt, a copy of the Simmons complaint will also be filed with the federal court considering the request for an injunction to stop the merger proposal.

Simmons was fired last year. A letter he wrote detailed numerous allegations about wrongdoing by Dow and others at the pension plan. Near the end of the year, CEO Dow left the fund temporarily on leave in connection with a health issue and has not yet returned to his position. There is speculation that the leave was aimed at easing him out of the fund.

Meanwhile, a report on Deadline that the Plan was the subject of a federal investigation led the Plan’s trustees, which include both labor and management representatives, to admit publicly that the Department of Labor was conducting a field audit of the fund, the toughest form of audit that the DOL can conduct of a pension plan. Deadline has reported that other federal agencies are looking at the fund, but the trustees appeared to deny that possibility.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that yet another senior official of the fund known to be an opponent of Dow was also fired today.

In light of this information it would not be surprising if the attorneys representing AFTRA in the merger would have some tough questions for SAG about the risks that AFTRA might be taking on board if the merger were to proceed.

As information comes out, this post will be updated.

 

and

SAG Pension & Health Plan Rocked By New Lawsuit: Allegations Target CEO Bruce Dow

 

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It Gets Curiouser and Curiouser

March 22, 2012 Posted by REJ

Apparently there have been some voting/ballot irregularities reported to the Guild regarding merger referendum packets. One such complaint involved a member, (we’ll call her SAG Doe) receiving her package with pertinent pages missing. Specifically, the pages in the proposed new union constitution dealing with the dues structure (53 through 55) and Article IX dealing with committees (31 through 34).

When SAG Doe contacted Michelle Bennett, Director of Guild Governance at SAG, Doe was asked to send back the “defective” package. Wisely, she refused and instead, delivered the package in person so both she and Ms. Bennett could view the package together. Photos were taken and according to SAG Doe, Ms. Bennett assured her that a replacement referendum package would be mailed ASAP.

True to Ms. Bennett’s word, SAG Doe did receive another ballot package. But guess what? Yeah, you guessed it. This replacement package was also missing pages. This time pages 27-30 and pages 55-58! We are not kidding. So, this diligent Doe called Ms. Bennett again and after a few messages and re-directions, Ms. Bennett followed up with SAG Doe and informed her another package would be sent. But when SAG Doe shared her concern regarding this mishap and opined that she couldn’t have been the only member out of the over 120,000, to have received a incomplete referendum packages. Well, she was met with a somewhat curt and dismissive response from Ms. Bennett. But to her credit, Ms. Bennett did contact the company responsible for the printing of the merger documents and she shared with SAG Doe the company’s reaction; “the two irregular packages were a very rare occurrence. A freak situation.”

SAG Doe does not believe it’s “a freak situation.” She believes, and we agree, that she certainly can’t be the only member who received a faulty referendum package. What are the odds that she is the only person to receive a package with missing pages? And what makes this even more remarkable, she received two faulty referendum packages in a row. Common sense would only lead one to believe that there must be many more faulty packages out there the among the voting membership. The sad part of all of this is we doubt many members even bothered to read the documents. If they had, we are sure more members would have discovered vital information missing from their merger referendum packages.

It was also reported that a SAG member received two SAG referendum ballots, both in her name. Not a duel member ballot. But two separate SAG ballots. How many members experienced the same thing? We can only assume the powers that be will be hyper vigilant when it comes to sorting, approving and counting the returned ballots on March 30th. ( insert Florida, chads and “Supreme Court Elects President”- jokes here)

REJ

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Pinocchio Would Be Proud.

March 19, 2012 Posted by REJ

During the March 17th, 2012 SAG/AFTRA Merger Informational meeting in Los Angeles, a member at-large asked a few questions regarding the proposed constitution of the new union. Specifically, if the constitution will allow the elected board and/or officers to receive a salary for their volunteer services. And again, like clockwork, those at the dais, including Ned Vaughn, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland and Gabrielle Carteris, with indignation, stated, “Absolutely not!!!”. Well, let’s review the tape, shall we.

On January 22nd, 2012 during a meeting of SAG officers, board members, staff and SAG members of the G1, it was asked of Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, that unlike the current SAG constitution which prohibits any kind of stipend or salary to be paid to the elected, if Article VIII, H, in the proposed constitution meant that the board, using its discretion, could decide to provide a salary to themselves and other elected. Mr. Crabtree-Ireland was very clear in his one word response; “Yes.”

On January 27th, during the SAG National Board meeting the same question was asked of Mr. Crabtree-Ireland and the same answer was provided; “Yes.”

On February 27th, both SAG and AFTRA mailed the merger package, including the 1000 word Opposition Report, to over 120,000 members. In the Opposition Report, it clearly states, “ELECTED LEADERS MAY RECEIVE PAY- The SAG Constitution prohibits paying elected officers and board members.  The new union Constitution opens the door for payments, currently not permitted.” Please keep in mind that the Opposition Report was vetted by SAG staff, including legal, for its factual accuracy. The Opposition Report is also posted on SAG’s official merger website.

On February 23rd, during the SAG-AFTRA Merger Informational meeting for stunt performers, the same question was asked of Mr. Crabtree-Ireland and the same answer was provided; “Yes.”

On March 7th, during a merger informational meeting held at 5757 Wilshire Blvd, the same question was asked of Mr. Crabtree-Ireland and the same answer was provided, “Yes.”

And finally, on March 17th, the question of salary was asked, but a new twist on the answer was provided. This time, the question was asked directly of AFTRA President Roberta Reardon and this time she almost told it like it is. When asked if she would continue to receive payment for her services if merger passes, she became somewhat defensive and informed the crowd that she deserved the money, is not ashamed of the money, needed the money and wouldn’t change a thing about it. Ms. Reardon actually stated during the meeting that, “I almost lost my home due to my tireless work towards merger as president of AFTRA.” Nearly loss your home, Robetera? Really?! Well, let’s again review the tape.

Back in 2010, during a National AFTRA board meeting, a group of board members presented a motion which was not originally on the agenda. The motion stated that due to her tireless efforts of working towards a merger between AFTRA and SAG, which tireless efforts had caused a dramatic drop in her job opportunities, Ms. Reardon deserved to receive a monthly stipend to help her through the challenging months of merger meetings and presidential obligations. This small committee recommended that the amount of $3,500 per month would hold her over until merger either passed or failed. When board members asked to see proof of Ms. Reardon’s loss of work, audition slips and bonafide job offers, the board was told that no proof was needed and that the word of Ms. Reardon should suffice. At no time did Ms. Reardon or the committee members state that Ms. Reardon was close to “losing” her home. The board voted, and unlike Ms Reardon’s March 17th claims of unanimity, the vote was nowhere near unanimous. In fact, a significant number of AFTRA board members, specifically from the right to work states, made it very clear that their very public and aggressive stance of “hire union-talent only” had caused them great harm to their lives and careers yet they had never asked for compensation.

In 2011, during another AFTRA National Board meeting, the question of Ms. Reardon’s $3,500 per month “stipend” was revisited and a motion to renew the monthly payment was made with a slight revision. This time around, not only was Ms. Reardon asking for the continuation of the monthly paycheck of $3,500.00, but she was also asking that the payments to continue three months after the merger vote, whether merger passed or failed. Yes, that’s right. Whether merger passes or fails, Ms. Reardon will continue to receive $3,500 per month until July 1st, 2012. At no time during the discussion to extend her $3,500 per month stipend did Ms. Reardon state, “I am close to losing my home.”

President Reardon has taken great pains to state that she is NOT receiving a salary but is receiving a stipend. Well, according to Webster’s Dictionary, a “stipend” is, “money paid periodically.” And according Webster’s, “periodically” means, “occurring at regular intervals.” Also according to Webster’s, the meaning of a “salary” is, “regular payment of services.” Put all that together and what Ms. Reardon’s has been and continues to receive on a regular monthly basis, in American currency, totaling $3,500 per month, come rain or shine, is a freaking SALARY.

When asked on March 17th, if she will continue to receive her stipend if merger passes, she remained quiet. She did not answer the question. Because if she had, she would have had to say, “Yes, whether merger passes or not, I will be receiving $3,500 per month until the 1st of July 2012, unless the new board, under it’s discretion, permitted by Article VIII, H, decide that I and other elected can receive some sort of payment for our time and energies spent as volunteers to the union and if that is the decision, I will continue to receive a salary for an unknown period of time.”

These are the same people who are telling the members that merger will provide increased leverage, that a feasibility impact study is either against the law or too expensive to do prior to the members vote, that merger will allow members to easily qualify for pension and health coverage, that merging of the plans WILL NOT cause a diminution of benefits for SAG members,  that SAG is prohibited from filing a Unit Clarification Petition with the NLRB due to SAG’s affiliation with the AFL-CIO, that Phase I/Appendix I hasn’t been in the SAG Constitution since 2008 even though it has never been removed from the constitution and still remains in the constitution to this very day, and so on and so on and so on…

Webster’s Dictionary: “Lie”:  n, Untrue statement.

REJ

 

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Variety’s McNary Covers What Other “Legit” Media Outlets Won’t

March 17, 2012 Posted by REJ

The following was posted in Daily Variety on March 13th. We tip our hats to SAG member and P&H Fund Trustee Robert “Bob”Carlson. He’s been the only one within the SAG P&H Trustee gang of 36 to step up to the plate and tell the truth. (see our March 5th post).

REJ
By Dave McNary <https://rbiowa.reedbusiness.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.variety.com/biography/1508>

Infighting’s continuing over the proposed merger between the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, with half a dozen new court filings seeking to derail the combo as part of an anti-merger lawsuit.

Robert Carlson, a trustee of the SAG pension and health plans for the past seven years, is disputing SAG’s contention that merging the SAG and AFTRA plans will be beneficial and warned that doing so would create a “staggering” burden.

Carlson made the disclosure as part of filings in support of the suit filed by Martin Sheen and 60 other actors.

A hearing is set for March 26 — four days before the unions are skedded to count the votes in the merger referendum — over complaints that SAG hasn’t adhered to its own regulations in promulgating the merger and is required to perform an actuarial study of the results of merging the plans.

Carlson took specific issue with SAG statements in ballot materials that “merging the unions would only benefit plan participants” and “merger is the best way to protect our benefits.”

“These statements are patently untrue,” Carlson said. “They mislead SAG members by lulling them into the false belief that these lawyers could or did reach such a conclusion.”

The unions’ summary of the feasibility study — which contains opinions of seven attorneys with experience in the field — also notes that several hundred multiemployer pensions have merged over the past 25 years, and there is no legal obstacle to merging the SAG and AFTRA pension and health plans. In addition, it says that multiemployer plan mergers do not pose any increased risk of loss of benefits.

Merger backers are asserting that the SAG-AFTRA combo will increase bargaining strength and represent a first step toward solving the problem of performers not qualifying for coverage under separate SAG and AFTRA health and pension plans. Carlson asserted that if the plans were to be merged, they would then be required to pay out more benefits without accruing additional income.

“This is a staggering financial burden which the plans cannot endure without either lowering benefits, increasing the qualification threshold or infusing additional funding into the plan,” Carlson said. “The financial burden that would result if the split earnings problem is ‘solved’ does not currently exist. This transparent outcome has been concealed from SAG members.”

SAG and AFTRA have touted the merger by telling members that the new SAG-AFTRA will have increased power at the negotiating table.

“Keep your benefits safe by making us all stronger,” the unions said in a recent postcard. “Bargaining strength is the foundation of all union protections including health and pension/retirement benefits.”

The lawsuit alleges that SAG and its leaders are attempting to merge “without conducting the necessary due diligence” while SAG has labeled the suit “a clear attempt at circumventing the will of the membership” and “a public relations stunt.”

SAG filed an earlier declaration by actuarial expert Ethan Kra that asserted that plan benefits could increase without an increase in employer contributions or investment returns. “This is because any merger would result in long-term administrative cost savings,” he added.

Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com <mailto:dave.mcnary@variety.com?subject=Pension%20plan%20trustee%20against%20merger>

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Legendary Artists and Other Fabulous Folks Lend Their Talent And Their Support!

March 13, 2012 Posted by REJ

This will be a once in a lifetime event. Nancy Sinatra, Frank Sinatra Jr, James Darren, Don Randi and the Wrecking Crew Band all in one night. Along with Louis Prima Jr. Band lead vocalist, Sarah Spiegel and Groundling’s darling, Phyllis Katz…. Hosted by Renee Taylor, Joe Bologna and Nancy Sinatra. All to help those who believe the Screen Actors Guild needs to be protected and made stronger without merging with AFTRA. It can be done. It’s not too late. But it takes funds.
Fabulous entertainment and delectable treats! World famous Catalina Jazz Club is also known for it’s fantastic bar!! So, make your reservations NOW!!!!!
Call Geri @ (626) 487-2235. or email your RSVP to gerij9@yahoo.com
Monday, March 19th.
7:00p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Catalina Jazz Club   6725 Sunset Blvd (Hollywood). 
$70 per person. $120 per couple.  NOT A PRIVATE EVENT
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Ahhh. How Refreshing!

March 9, 2012 Posted by REJ

   The Real Merger-Information Informational

Come and ask your questions and receive real answers without the ONE UNION spin.

WHEN: Sunday, March 11th.

TIME: 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

WHERE: VA Campus (Brentwood Modulars/Bungalows)

                 11301 Wilshire Boulevard  #6005

                  Los Angeles, Ca 90073

Bring your merger booklets. Bring your SAG or AFTRA card for admittance.

Exit the 405 on Wilshire.  Enter the campus off of Wilshire. Go to Bonsall ST. Take Bonsall ST road all the way to the end of the campus. You will see parking lot 38. Park in lot 38. Bungalow is to your left with signs posted that say Performers Informational forum.

REJ

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SAG P&H Union Trustee Ends His Silence

March 5, 2012 Posted by REJ

UPDATE: A week ago ru4sagmerger.com posted See No Evil, Hear No Evil, regarding the deafening silence coming from the SAG Pension and Health Trustees regarding the merger question, the supposed “Feasibility Review” being proffered  by the unions as a feasibility impact study and the February 2nd about face done by AFTRA’s H&R Trustees.

Robert Carlson, long time SAG Trustee and former SAG national board member, has requested that we publish his letter in response to our posting. We appreciate his candor and his dedication to SAG members.

REJ

Last week, in a post on this site, titled See No Evil, Hear No Evil…., the SAG Pension and Health Trustees were asked a very valid and timely question. Why are you remaining silent, unlike the AFTRA Trustees, regarding the”Feasibility Review” posted on the Union websites? The AFTRA Trustees were absolutely correct in saying ”…..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.” In other words, you’ve got to get some actuaries on the job and it won’t be easy. 

 SAG’s merger document position that “…….merging the unions and the Plans would only benefit plan participants” and …..merger is the best way to protect our benefits” is patently untrue. So why are the SAG Trustees silent? Are they simply ignoring the issue?  I think it’s more complex than that. The Trustees are in the middle of trying to figure out what to do about their longtime CEO, who has been accused by a fired Plan employee of a variety of illegal or improper acts on the job. This has consumed Trustees’ time and energy, but they could have dealt with the Feasibility Review issue if there were a collective will to do so. There is not. The producer Trustees appear to be disinclined to meddle in a Union election. The Guild Trustees, with the exception of a very few, in my opinion, are so dedicated to accomplishing the MERGER that they are willing to ignore the truth. 

 Several Trustees, named in the See No Evil post, were members of or advisors to the G1 committee. Several of the AFTRA Trustees, who had no part in generating the “feasibility” letters from attorneys, were G1 members also, but they took the high road and showed the determination to be truthful with their members. I think the majority of my fellow SAG Trustees have painted themselves into a corner. The voters have been promised by SAG that merger of the Plans can only be a benefit.  If and when that does not happen, Plan participants and SAG members (who are always striving to be covered) will have only the Trustees to look to for answers. ”What happened to our benefits? We were promised that everything would be better.”

 Robert Carlson, SAG Pension and Health Trustee

 

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  • Together we can make history


    Don't have a PayPal account? Just click on "Don't have a PayPal account" and use your credit card or you can donate by check:
    Make donation check out to:
    Wasserman, Comden, Casselman & Esensten
    AND MAIL TO: MEMBERSHIP FUND
    P.O BOX 1590
    STUDIO CITY, CA 91604
    Note on memo, "P&H Impact Study Defense Fund"

    THE RIGHTEOUS BATTLE IS NOT OVER YET!!!!!

    A SAG/AFTRA PENSION AND HEALTH IMPACT STUDY

    For the past several months, a group of Screen Actors Guild members, from all walks of life and career levels, have dedicated their precious time, energy and money to expose the lies and compel the Screen Actors Guild to tell the truth about the SAG/AFTRA merger plan.

    After exhausting all internal union remedies, these members had no other option but to hire legal experts to force SAG to tell the truth. With the expert legal guidance of David Casselman of Wasserman, Comden, Casselman and Esensten LLP, this group of SAG members filed a law suit in federal court. At the heart of the suit is the fact that SAG has intentionally ignored its own constitution with regard to providing pertinent information, specifically information about the impact merger will have on SAG's P&H plans. Vital information members must have prior to casting their vote.

    This has been a long, expensive yet righteous journey and the court will present its decision any day now.

    It goes without saying that all involved in this fight are hoping for the best. But regardless of the outcome, everyone involved couldn't be prouder of the cause and of the men and women who have given so much to help others.

    We all appreciate those who have so generously contributed to this cause. But the need for more donations continues. If you haven't contributed and would like to, it's not too late. And if you have already contributed but have found a few more dollars to give, you can contribute directly through our PayPal account or send a check. (please scroll up to find that information).

    We thank you all. We are not done yet. We must continue to fight against those who are doing their best to keep SAG members in the dark.