No halo over SAG video games contract
October 28, 2009 | 6:42
pm
Actors who perform in the burgeoning video game industry have rejected a proposed new contract, sending their leaders back to the bargaining table.
Screen Actors Guild members, voting in secret ballots in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and San Francisco, voted 63% to 37% to reject a tentative interactive agreement, the union said Wednesday.
Among other things, actors have objected to a provision that would increase the number of voices that background actors would have to perform before they would receive double their standard pay rate.
Screen Actors Guild members, voting in secret ballots in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and San Francisco, voted 63% to 37% to reject a tentative interactive agreement, the union said Wednesday.
The contract, which expired Dec. 31, 2008, covers about 2,000 actors.
"The Screen Actors Guild will be pursuing further negotiations with the industry to address the concerns raised by members regarding the tentative agreement," the union said in a statement.Among other things, actors have objected to a provision that would increase the number of voices that background actors would have to perform before they would receive double their standard pay rate.
SAG's board opted to send the contract to members without a formal recommendation. By contrast, the board of its sister union, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, recently recommended approval, which must be ratified by members who work under the contract.
-- Richard Verrier
