A pair of stories from the Wall Street Journal
Actors Union Approves Pact With Producers
By LAUREN A.E. SCHUKER, July 9, 2008; Page B8
Members of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists approved their new contract with a 62.4% majority. In recent weeks, the Aftra vote became something of a referendum on the actors’ desire to continue negotiating for a better contract with the studios, as the two unions share about 44,000 members. SAG, currently embroiled in difficult talks with Hollywood studios, campaigned vigorously against the new Aftra deal as a means of demonstrating that its members are willing to aggressively pursue better terms in their own contract — even on the heels of a crippling 100-day strike by screenwriters last winter.
Studios Weigh Options Amid Strike Uncertainty
By LAUREN A.E. SCHUKER and PETER SANDERS, July 10, 2008; Page B3
In the midst of unresolved contract negotiations with the Screen Actors Guild, Hollywood studios are weighing whether to declare an impasse and, in some cases, are preparing to push ahead with planned projects despite uncertainty over a possible strike.
The steps seem to indicate film and TV producers believe the prospects of a strike by the Screen Actors Guild have been diminished by recent events. On Tuesday, members of another actors’ union, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, ratified its contract with the studios, leaving SAG as the only major Hollywood union without a contract.
SAG will meet with the studios on Thursday afternoon to discuss a final offer on the table, but SAG leadership has said it is still unhappy with that deal. SAG leadership has said the vote on the Aftra contract, which was ratified by 62.4% of the members who voted, shows a significant group of actors are not satisfied with that deal, and that they will continue to fight for better terms.
Hollywood Producers Say SAG Rejects Contract Offer
Associated Press, July 11, 2008
The two sides met privately for more than five hours before the AMPTP released a statement saying the guild was “unreasonably” seeking more than other unions. The session came as actors continue to work under a contract that expired last month.
The studios made their final offer last week, saying it provided $250 million in additional compensation over three years. The studios said they will not make any pay increases retroactive to July 1 if the deal is not ratified by Aug. 15.
SAG, the largest and most powerful actors union, represents 120,000 actors in movies, TV and other media. It is seeking greater compensation for DVDs, something neither writers, directors nor a smaller actors union could secure in negotiations.
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