Hollywood Performers Union SAG-AFTRA Accused Of Age Discrimination In Lawsuit

HOLLYWOOD (CBSLA) - The union that represents Hollywood performers is being accused of discrimination based on age because of changes to its healthcare plan.

Ed Asner, 91, former president of Screen Actors Guild, filed a lawsuit alleging changes to the SAG-AFTRA healthcare plan will eliminate coverage for 11,750 participants, including 8,200 seniors.

But the union denies the allegations, saying it changed the health plan in August due to the pandemic.

On Monday, SAG-AFTRA passed a resolution requiring members to follow coronavirus safety protocols in the workplace.

SAG President Gabrielle Carteris said the actors union has become "increasingly concerned about the flood of misleading information being spread by certain websites and social media accounts about our health plan."

Carteris said in a prepared statement that "(b)y directing plan participants to unofficial websites rather than the plan's official, vetted and accurate website, they are confusing people who need to connect with the plan to ensure they have appropriately transitioned to their new coverage."

Asner, known for his roles in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and the Pixar movie "Up" is the lead plaintiff in a proposed class-action complaint against the changes in the healthcare plan.

(© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. City News Service contributed to this report.)