SAG DISSIDENTS THROW IN THE TOWEL

A last-ditch attempt at blocking the merger of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists has been — well, ditched. A group of dissident SAG members had continued to pursue the litigation even after last March’s union election in which members of both unions overwhelmingly approved the merger. On Wednesday, however, the plaintiffs dispatched a letter to SAG’s outside counsel, Bob Bush, saying, “After careful consideration, largely reflecting on the results of the recent merger election, my clients have reached the conclusion that continued prosecution of the pending litigation would not assist the cause they initially sought to champion.” Today’s (Thursday) Hollywood Reporter quoted SAG-AFTRA executive vice president Ned Vaughn as saying, “Dropping this frivolous lawsuit was the first good decision the plaintiffs have made.”