SAG sets Jan. 2 as date for strike vote

It's official: Strike referendum ballots will be mailed out Jan. 2 with the results tabulated on Jan. 23, the Screen Actors Guild said this morning.

Guild insiders said the union had originally planned to send out ballots immediately after Christmas. But the timing of the mailing came under heavy fire from union critics who believed SAG wanted to minimize the turnout of working actors, who are the most likely to oppose the strike authorization.

Addressing the timing issue in a statement, SAG President Alan Rosenberg said: "We want SAG members to have time to focus on this critical referendum, so we have decided to mail ballots the day after New Year's ... A yes vote sends a strong message that we are serious about fending off rollbacks and getting what is fair for actors."

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which bargains on behalf of the studios, was swift to dismiss the announcement. "SAG members are going to be asked to bail out a failed negotiating strategy by going on strike during one of the worst economic crises in history. We hope that working actors will study our contract offer carefully and come to the conclusion that no strike can solve the problems that have been created by SAG's own failed negotiation strategy."

SAG wants additional time to conduct an aggressive education campaign to garner support for its goal of seeking a better contract than what the studios have offered, a tall order given the deep recession and divisions in the union.

The campaign kicked into high gear on Monday when nearly 500 SAG members attended a rousing town hall meeting in Hollywood, where supporters cheered guild leaders and booed a few dissidents who questioned the wisdom of holding a strike referendum during a severe economic downturn.

A positive strike vote requires 75% approval from those who vote and gives the union's board authority to call a strike if all efforts at reaching a contract with the studios fail. Ballots will be tabulated at Integrity Voting Systems in Everett, Wash. The national board, which meets on Jan. 24, will have final say on whether to stage a walkout.

-- Richard Verrier

Comments

[Amazing]

I cannot believe how selfish some people are. The impact this strike would have on our already dismal local economy is incredible. Actors already make a VERY decent living. It doesn't matter whether or not they are 'stars'- all actors get compensated extremely well. So, if SAG chooses to strike, lets thank them for all of the other lives they will impact negatively with their selfish decision. While the City, local businesses and national companies are all planning on layoffs, they can just sit back and want more more more....

[About to lose my job because of SAG]

Great, that's just great. What more can I say?

[Jeff]

Maybe the irreconcilable differences between SAG prexy Alan Rosenberg and his wife Marg Helgenberger("China Beach," "CSI")involve the possible strike...she likes her job, and he wants all actors to hit the picket lines. Just a thought...

[Theecount]

This is some serious narcissism on the part of SAG. Only actors would think they desrve better than EVERYONE else who contributes to the PROCESS. Movies don't finance, make, and market themselves. It takes an army.

So actors, why not take the deal handed to you today, and since you will do this all again in 3 years, you can strike then, perhaps most of us won't be steps away from financial catastrophe then.

Rosenberg, you are a tool. You mellow dramatic statements that "their futures as professional actors are at stake" is so overblown and antagonistic. Please...no one cares man...we want to work...so get over yourselves. Youa re not more special than anyone else because you are an "actor".

[wow...]

Amazing how clueless some of you are. Most of the rank ansd file sag members make very little. As far as 'the same deal as everyone else' this is a fabrication spreads by the producers.

Just consider DVD residuals. a cast SHARES 1% of net sales. The guy who writes the back cover makes more.

There is a lot more to this dispute than most of the public knows.

[UK calling]

18397 people have signed the petition (as of 12 Dec 08) urging SAG not to strike, think that says something about the opinion of crew within the film industry