SAG and studios reach tentative deal

Negotiators for the Screen Actors Guild and the major studios have reached a tentative agreement on a new two-year contract for the union's 120,000 members.

Sources close to the talks say the union's negotiating task force will be briefed today on the proposed agreement, which is expected to be voted on by SAG's 71-member national board on Sunday.

Actors have been working without a contract for nine months as previous attempts at negotiations with the studios collapsed.

The contract contains some minor improvements over previous offers but is largely similar to the one studios presented to SAG nine months ago. That is certain to raise questions about what the union  accomplished by holding out so long to secure a deal after other talent unions secured their own contracts with the studios.

The agreement was hashed out after weeks of back-channel talks involving between SAG interim executive director David White and top media executives, principally Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Iger and Warner Bros. chairman  Barry Meyer.

Talks were revived after the union's former chief negotiator was ousted by moderates who took control of SAG's board in elections last year.

The breakthrough came earlier this month when the sides reached a compromise over the most contentious issue: the expiration date of a new contract. SAG leaders insisted that their new contract run through June 2011 so that the union could line up its next round of negotiations with the expiring contracts of other Hollywood talent unions. The studios, however, wanted a three-year term, which would push SAG's contract expiration into 2012.

-- Richard Verrier

 

Comments

[Steven]

All those productions leaving town will hopefully be making an about face!!! I could sure use the work.......Way to go sag seems like you got everything you wanted...oh wait

[DA in LA]

As a member of both SAG and the WGA, i don't want SAG to be anywhere near contract talks when the WGA is at the table. SAG is a joke.

[Paul]

Well it's about time. Nine months of wasted time and lost jobs. Thanks for nothing.

[god i hate stupid people]

Who cares. The way this negotiation was handled was a joke. SAG is a joke they have earned the right to represent NO ONE. go find another industry to screw up. LOSERS!!!!!

[jerry w]

Ah, the prospect of working again is getting brighter. I'm sure going to miss living under this freeway overpass, but that's my sacrifice and I'm happy to make it.

It's all about personal sacrifices, much like the ones that those people have to live with who work one or two days a year under the SAG contract, but then can vote to hang the whole works up for months and months.

Using that train of thought, should the actors ask for support I'll be happy to just pass on it, after all if it doesn't cost me anything, nothing's too good for them.

[eric hulett]

The work slow down has affected countless film workers AND companies who supply goods and services. Some have gone bankrupt and will never recover. Although I realize it would be unfair to burden SAG shoulders with the blame, my concern is the change in the economy in the last year is now an additional factor in getting funding for new projects! It will be a long way back. This industry WILL recover soon I hope.

[xinunus]

THATS GREAT!! THE TALENT IN HOLLYwood ALREADY SUCKS. THIS WILL JUST MAKE IT WORSE.

DOES EVERYONE OUT THERE NOT REALIZE THAT UNIONS MAKE THINGS WORSE?

UNIONS IN HOLLYwood ARE THE REASON WE KEEP SEEING A REHASH OF THE SAME OLE UNTALENTED ACTORS..

PATHETIC..

[David Hillberg]

the board recommends to the members the majority vote..It was very close at 53%.
the membership has yet to see the contract as of this date.
I as a member of the guild will vote this contract down why?
background performers are not covered in new media.
the payments to actors during the writers strike will never be paid per the past contract
residuals for all the move over shows (classic TV and movies) do not pay residuals
silence and misinformation is rampant in these talks the amptp removed the best last and final offer from their site and the contract with it's language inclusions and exclusions have yet to be seen..the moderates are not who they say they are and what they represent to the guild..

I like most the current protesters are not affiliated with either U4S, FM1st or USAN fractions
we are rank and file guild members who are worried that our lively hoods are no longer represented as they should be..
Stars are few and far between in the expanse of everyday actors ,day players, extras and stunt people who work on the average yearly pay of close to minimum wage.