The board of AFTRA, meeting via video conference on Saturday, approved the long-sought merger with the Screen Actors Guild, with 94% of the members on board. Earlier in the weekend, the board of SAG met in Los Angeles and voted 87% to 13% in favor. This is the third time the two performers' unions have formally tried to merge, with the membership of SAG scuttling both earlier attempts. With the expected approval by both boards, ballots will be mailed to members next month. The previous merger votes were in 1998 and 2003.