October 12, 2008 7:57:20 AM CDT
(Newser) – Uncertainty still reigns in Hollywood as the largest actors union, the Screen Actors Guild, faces a pair of tough choices, Variety reports. SAG could try to sabotage a deal reached by the smaller American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and it will need to get its members to authorize a strike if its contract with studios expires June 30 without a new agreement.
One analyst says "interunion strife" will keep SAG from getting the 75% vote needed to OK a strike; encouraging members who also belong to AFTRA to nix that union's agreement with studios could backfire if it passes by a wide margin and further erodes SAG's bargaining position. "SAG is the caboose on a train that is traveling full speed," the analyst notes.
Source Variety
Jul 1, 08 8:19 AM CDT The contract between the Screen Actors Guild and Hollywood studios expired early today—but SAG has decided to let members keep working for the time being, E! Online reports. The two sides are scheduled to reconvene tomorrow. The Alliance of Motion Picture and TV Producers made it what it called a “final offer” last night, but SAG officials were skeptical. More »
Jun 26, 08 2:30 AM CDT TV and movie studios are scrambling to be as prepared as possible in the event of an actors' strike when the union contract expires Monday, reports the New York Times. Movie studios had long planned to finish projects by the deadline—and TV studios have been rushing productions to finish next season’s episodes early. “We’re incredibly hopeful an agreement will be reached—but we have a contingency plan,” said an NBC executive. More »
May 7, 08 9:28 AM CDT Fears of another big Hollywood strike mounted yesterday after strained talks between the studios and the Screen Actors Guild ended without a deal, the Los Angeles Times reports. Negotiations closed on a bitter note after studio representatives walked away, calling the actors' demands unreasonable. "We wanted to stay in the room and make a deal and our pleas were ignored," said SAG's president. More »
Mar 30, 08 7:30 AM CDT In a move that will complicate upcoming negotiations between actors and Hollywood studios, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists split yesterday from the Screen Actors Guild, its sister union for 27 years. AFTRA shares more than half of its members with SAG, but its more moderate contract goals pull it in a different direction, reports the Los Angeles Times. More »
labor unions • Screen Actors Guild • labor strike • actors' strike • SAG • AFTRA
