SAG-AFTRA to Lay Off Up to 80 in Restructuring (Exclusive)

2:31 PM PDT 4/16/2013 by Jonathan Handel

37
79
0
8
0
Email
Print
Comments

The cuts amount to about 15 percent of the union’s staff and could save $8 million per year in salaries and benefit costs.

SAG-AFTRA will lay off 70 to 80 employees, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. The terminations are part of a restructuring plan meant to better position the union and better serve members, according to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity.

About 15 Percent of SAG-AFTRA Staff Leaving in Voluntary Buyout (Exclusive)

•Labor

The union currently has about 550 employees, meaning that the reduction in force represents about 15 percent of the union’s staff. It’s understood that there will be severance payments, but not on the order of the voluntary severance plan the union adopted in September 2012.

It’s unknown when the cuts will be implemented, but they won’t happen until after the plan is presented to the union’s board at its meeting this weekend.

The reduction in force will be broad -- it could affect unionized and non-unionized employees in any or all departments. (A number of SAG-AFTRA employees are themselves represented by a union.)

THR estimates that the cuts could save the union roughly $8 million per year in salaries and benefits, but this would depend, of course, on the salaries of those affected.

Bookmark The Hollywood Reporter’s Labor Page for the most in-depth coverage of entertainment unions and guilds.

Email: jhandel99 at gmail dot com

Twitter: @jhandel