The new union, now titled SAG-AFTRA, goes into effect immediately, aligning more than 150,000 professionals in fields ranging from actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other media professionals. SAG members voted 82 percent in favor of the merger, while AFTRA members favored the merger with 86 percent, exceeding the 60 percent threshold needed for both unions' membership for passage, according to a release.

"The merger of these two unions is a huge victory for our members, and it is a monumental achievement for the labor movement," said SAG-AFTRA national co-president Roberta Reardon in a statement. "As this vote today proves, great and transformative things are possible when working Americans stand together and shape their collective destiny through their union. I applaud every member who voted, and invite all members, locally and nationally, to join with us in building a successor union worthy of AFTRA and SAG."

Visit SAGAFTRA.org.