Los Angeles, June 29, 2008 – Screen Actors Guild released the following statement from SAG National President Alan Rosenberg: “We have taken no steps to initiate a strike authorization vote by the members of Screen Actors Guild. Any talk about a strike or a management lockout at this point is simply a distraction. The Screen Actors Guild national negotiating committee is coming to the bargaining table every day in good faith to negotiate a fair contract for actors.”
This is the Part I: SAG/AFTRA/AMPTP Overview which I posted Friday: COUNTDOWN TO JUNE 30TH: Calm Down. There Will Be No Strike Sequel. But When Will Hollywood Ever Get Back To Work? Parts II and III coming today.
Any bet on a total lockout when the AFTRA contract goes down? I put that prediction at 50/50.
Comment by Jessy S. — June 29, 2008 @ 12:57 pm
Technically they have taken no steps to seek a strike authorization because they know it wouldn’t pass. But they’re Anti-AFTRA Exhibit A campaign is an end run to get a strike authorization. With SAG and AFTRA both without contracts and no where close in negotiations you can damn sure bet there will either be a strike or a lockout (if it were to suceede). And lets not forget SAG first brought the strike threat into the discussion when it issued GCCs to all Indie productions.
Comment by This is getting old — June 29, 2008 @ 1:49 pm
Issuing GCC’s to indie productions doesn’t mean that there will be a strike or lockout. All it does is ensure indie productions that there will be work beyond June 30th. All people need to know that while there isn’t a chance at a strike, the AMPTP will likely issue a lockout. The chances increase greatly if the AFTRA vote comes up No on July 8th. We have to remember that those that those big actors that are pledging others to vote no, actually have the future of the industry in their minds.
Comment by Jessy S. — June 29, 2008 @ 4:29 pm
“Issuing GCC’s to indie productions doesn’t mean that there will be a strike or lockout. All it does is ensure indie productions that there will be work beyond June 30th.”
So why not grant said waivers to AMPTP productions? SAG clearly wanted at least the threat of a strike hanging over AMPTP.
“All people need to know that while there isn’t a chance at a strike, the AMPTP will likely issue a lockout.”
Why is that “likely?” AMPTP is the party dissatisfied at operating under the current agreement–they’d be happy to continue under it. It is SAG & AFTRA (& WGA & DGA) that (rightfully, IMO) want changes. Since it will take at least 3 weeks to conduct a strike authorization vote, that means no chance a TV episode will be interrupted mid-production. Eventually AMPTP will need security to start/restart motion pic production, but not immediately–they are well stocked already
Comment by Sarcastic Cynic — June 29, 2008 @ 7:26 pm
Ummmm…did you folks miss the news that 3000 actors signed the letter in favor of Exhibit A? That all the SAG regional offices have come out against the Hollywood SAG elite’s campaign against the agreement? Under what delusion are you people living? Well, yes. You might have missed it, because Nikki didn’t choose to report it. But it happened. The agreement’s going to pass. Then what? End. Game. Blame. Game.
Comment by Pat Skipper — June 29, 2008 @ 7:57 pm
The SAG regional offices came out against Hollywood SAG. This is news? The SAG regional offices are a joke. Not only do none of the regional oficers have few if any SAG shows. They sure don’t have any “AFTRA exhibit A” shows. What’s it to them?
I don’t even know why SAG has all these regional offices. I think they should be closed to save money. Three offices are all SAG should have. Hollywood, Chicago and New York. The regional offices are really just a bunch of aggressive AFTRA V.O. people, hell bent on merging with SAG.
Also the SAG New York Board is extremely over represented when you look at how many acting jobs they have per year vs. how many Hollywood has. I want proportional representation. I’m tired of the loud mouth New York V.O type too. SAG needs to go back to the days (the 1950’s) when the Guild was ruled with an iron fist out of Hollywood by recognizable actors . Then and only then will SAG cease to be the divided union which it has become.
Comment by joe brown — June 29, 2008 @ 10:46 pm
None of the offices need to close a lot of SAG films are going out of LA/NYC and Chiacgo to film
theres like ten filming in my home state of MI.
The divison here of SAG just shows how a small few are dominating over what their union thinks is best. They are all power hungry!!!
Comment by John — June 29, 2008 @ 11:35 pm
Come on…in the east the betting word is that Rosenberg wants “…his strike.” This man is out of control!
Comment by Mark — June 30, 2008 @ 4:56 pm
What are you talking about Mark - Rosenberg wants a strike? You obviously don’t know this man who took this thankless job as SAG President. He’s fighting the good fight and for what? Nay sayers like you who sit on the sideline and make “Out Of Control” comments and don’t even have the BALLS to sign your full name. And what is this East that you’re talking about? SAG east? Be more clear in your comments - even when stupid…
Comment by Scott Brown — June 30, 2008 @ 8:44 pm
Vote yes to Aftra Contract.
Comment by Bruce — July 1, 2008 @ 5:33 pm
VOTE NO! on the AFTRA Contract! Most of you already have voted NO - every dual card holder I know did.
Comment by Scott — July 1, 2008 @ 6:15 pm