[2] The union was established by the merger of the Actors' Equity Association and the White Rats of America.The 4As splits its votes in AFL-CIO elections based on the wishes of each member union.The current AAAA member unions of the AFL–CIO are: AEA, AGMA, GIAA, and SAG-AFTRA.The well-known performer and civil rights activist Theodore Bikel was President of the 4As until his death in 2015.The other two 4As members, AEA and SAG-AFTRA, previously received direct charters from the AFL-CIO.