SAG MERGER DEBATED SPECIFICS OF DEAL HIDDEN, FOES SAY.

Byline: Greg Hernandez Staff Writer

STUDIO CITY - Opponents of a proposed consolidation of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists charged Thursday that SAG leadership is engaged in a ``slick PR campaign'' that glosses over key elements of a proposal set to be mailed to both memberships June 9.

The two sides are clashing over a variety of issues ranging from the autonomy of merged unions to the issue of how each union's current health and pension plans would be impacted by a merger.

SAG National Treasurer Kent McCord complained that it has been difficult for opponents of the plan to voice their viewpoint while $2.75 million in SAG and AFTRA dues money is being spent to present a campaign and referendum ballot for the plan.

``If this deal is so good, I don't know why you'd have to spend a cent,'' McCord said. ``But because it's so bad, they have to spend all this money as if it's the opening of a bad movie.''

SAG spokeswoman Ilyanne Kichaven said Thursday that the budget for the campaign was approved by the union's national executive committee and that SAG continues to operate within the confines of that budget. SAG's portion is $1.6 million while AFTRA makes up the balance, she said.

McCord was joined at a morning press conference at a Holiday Inn in Studio City by, among others, SAG National Secretary Elliot Gould and actress Valerie Harper. The group challenged SAG President Melissa Gilbert and others pushing the plan to meet for a public debate so the pros and cons of the plan could be clearly presented.

Gould announced that rallies and press conferences would be held Wednesday, designated by the group as Save SAG Day in Los Angeles and New York by those opposed to the merger.

The Save SAG group is upset that it has not been given the opportunity to have a minority report detailing its concerns about the plan when voting materials are sent out. Gilbert said there was clearly not enough support among the national board to justify such a report.

``You cannot elevate a 10 percent minority's opinion with a 90 percent majority,'' Gilbert said.

Harper, who was defeated by Gilbert in two elections for SAG president, called the campaign ``all smoke and mirrors.'' She asked SAG's leadership to ``... stop spending the membership's hard-earned dues money on one-sided merger magazines and mailers and honestly and fairly present both sides of the merger issue so the membership can make an informed choice.''

Kichaven said a public debate is not planned since informational meetings being held serve the same purpose.

``We encourage all members to attend informational meetings where all members are encouraged to express concerns and views and have full discussions at these meetings,'' Kichaven said.

In an interview this week, Gilbert characterized the opposition leaders as a dissatisfied group who ``have lost their power base'' and are afraid of change.

She also disputed claims that information efforts are being stymied.

``It's certainly within everyone's right to have their voices heard,'' Gilbert said. ``We certainly hear them now ... their information is out there.''

The consolidation plan calls for three affiliates dedicated to actors, broadcasters and recording artists, respectively, operating within a single umbrella union to be called the Alliance of International Media Artists.

SAG has 98,000 members while AFTRA has a membership of approximately 70,000. About 40,000 performers are members of both groups, which would become a unified financial entity with a single national dues structure and a new constitution.

The consolidation is designed to give performers greater negotiating power in the entertainment industry, according to its proponents. For approval, 60 percent of members of both unions must vote in favor of the plan.

Opponents say each affiliate would lose autonomy and direct fiscal oversight due to the power of the AIMA governing council. Opponents said the different unions could help each other by sharing resources and services in order to save money.

Several speakers said they are not opposed to the concept of consolidating the unions, but are against the current proposal, which they said adds an unnecessary level of expensive bureaucracy and takes away SAG's autonomy.

Greg Hernandez, [phone]

greg.hernandez(at)dailynews.com