SAG set to return to table
AFTRA talks hit bumpy road
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SAG leaders are warning that labor peace isn't at hand any time soon -- though they continue to avoid mentioning going on strike once the current feature-primetime deal expires June 30 and haven't yet scheduled a strike authorization vote. Instead, Hollywood's likely facing a tough slog for several weeks.
"We are ready, willing and able to return to bargaining, and we hope for a positive outcome," SAG told members Monday night at a town hall meeting. "At the same time, we remain steadfast in our commitment to protect your rights and to fend off onerous rollbacks."
The language in the missive was significantly harsher than in previous messages. The four-page update -- given out to 300 members who attended the meeting at the WGA Theater in Beverly Hills, then posted Tuesday on the SAG website -- made it clear that the guild's leaders believe they've already compromised plenty and can't go much further.
SAG keyed in on half a dozen issues that must be resolved before they can reach a deal and continued to insist it can't accept the same terms as in pacts signed by the DGA, WGA and AFTRA for its network code.
"Some seem to think we should simply and quietly take what writers, directors and AFTRA net code performers got," SAG said. "But actors have issues that other above-the-line union members do not have. We are not being selfish or greedy. We believe your image and your right to actor-specific protections are a critical part of our proud 75-year history."
Talks between SAG and the AMPTP recessed May 6 despite the guild's objections that it was near a deal -- a contention disputed by the AMPTP, which called SAG's demands "unreasonable" at that point and insisted it needed to launch the twice-delayed AFTRA talks.
SAG's latest proclamations -- amplified at the meeting by president Alan Rosenberg and national exec director Doug Allen -- will likely confirm the town's worries about a strike since the guild's clearly nowhere near signing a contract even after having bargained for 18 days.
Meanwhile, AFTRA and the majors met for the 10th day of bargaining Tuesday at the headquarters of the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers amid a news blackout. Talks are expected to resume today.
AFTRA president Roberta Reardon cautioned Monday that a primetime pact won't be "quick or easy" to reach, emphasizing AMPTP's demand that actors not relinquish consent for TV clips to be used online.
The AMPTP issued a lengthy "fact sheet" late Tuesday that noted a black market for clips already exists on websites and video-sharing services as a result of Internet piracy.
"These clips will be out there with or without our industry," the companies said. "That means that actors have already lost control over their images without receiving any compensation whatsoever."
The AMPTP asserted that there's potential to create a significant legal market for clips, which would generate new revenue for actors, adding, "Given the public demand that already exists in the black market, there is a high likelihood that a 'clips iTunes' would be a success."
But it also said the existing rules would require bargaining with individual performers, which will prevent the industry from developing a lawful clips market and allow the black market to flourish.
Meanwhile, SAG's missive blasted the AMPTP for the failure to make a deal two weeks ago. "We made three successive attempts to reduce our demands and accept management proposals despite the lack of any meaningful attempt by the AMPTP to do their fair share to reach an agreement or even respond to our most recent counterproposals before suspending talks," SAG said.
More than 300 members attended the two-hour SAG meeting in Beverly Hills and offered generally strong support to Rosenberg and Allen, including standing ovations for both. The duo identified key issues as "boulders" blocking a deal:
- SAG's refused to agree on the clips issue.
- SAG's seeking a 15% hike in DVD residuals by proposing that the majors make pension and health contribution on DVD residuals.
- SAG's refusing to drop claims that were filed during the WGA strike over "force majeure" provisions under which actors did not receive compensation for being required to remain exclusive to TV shows that went dark during the work stoppage. It's also spurning an AMPTP proposal to remove that provision.
- SAG's seeking language that would allow actors to refuse to participate in "forced endorsement," when products are integrated into scenes in which they're performing.
- SAG's turned down the AMPTP's proposal for low-budget thresholds in new media, asserting that it would allow non-union actors to work on 90% of the new-media programs SAG already covers.
The issue of a strike authorization vote did not come up during the meeting. In order to go on strike, SAG would have to obtain 75% approval from members casting ballots.
The session saw several speakers criticize AFTRA over signing TV shows at lower terms than SAG's. At one point, Rosenberg told the crowd he wanted to focus on negotiations rather than "AFTRA bashing."
