Post by annabelleleigh on Jan 23, 2009 16:28:21 GMT -5
There are other sites that do this in detail on an almost daily basis, but I thought since SAG's 15th annual awards gala is this Sunday, it might be a natural point at which to post here the latest SAG contract news.
It may also be more interesting to this site's members when the news mentions a CI cast member.
The short story: SAG is still deadlocked within its own ranks. There are two distinct factions (as there were during the recent board elections): one pushing hardline action, the other more willing to trust in the outcomes of negotiations with the industry (AMPTP). Both sides appear to be well-intended; both want to achieve certain rights and payment objectives on behalf of SAG members. Where they differ hugely is in strategy. SAG national executive director Doug Allen (see article below) is on the hotseat, apparently for trying to forge a compromise between the two warring factions.
Bogosian, an alternate board member, says he's not aligned with either faction.
In conclusion: At this juncture not only is there no looming SAG strike, there also appears to be no looming strike authorization vote.
Boldfaces below are mine.
AL
-------------------------
Allen still at center of SAG debate
Hollywood board endorses national exec
By Dave McNary
Variety
January 22, 2009
Excerpt:
"...SAG denied a widely distributed report late Thursday that its leaders had formally given up on its divisive plan to hold a strike authorization vote. A SAG rep insisted that guild prexy Alan Rosenberg and embattled national exec director Doug Allen had done no such thing, though the guild still hasn't set a date for sending out those strike ballots.
The flap over the fate of the strike authorization comes on the same day that the guild's Hollywood-based hardline members issued a statement of support for Allen. That statement came on the heels of the call by a slim majority of the guild's national board that Allen be fired for mishandling the guild's contract negotiations...
...[T]he strike authorization is looking considerably less likely as the leaders of the hardline faction, led by Rosenberg, also admitted they're backing Allen and his gambit because they've come to the realization that the strike authorization would not gain the necessary 75% approval among SAG members voting on the measure. And the group blamed its inability to sway members on the "questionable tactics" used by an array of forces -- the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers, AMPTP operatives, industry CEOs, industry-dependent media, high-profile producer-actors and some members of the board...
The moderate wing of SAG's national board has pledged it will fire Allen on grounds that he's bungled SAG's negotiations, defied the will of the board and left members without a new feature-primetime contract for nearly eight months. Despite having the votes to toss Allen out, the moderate wing was blocked by Rosenberg and his allies at the marathon Jan. 12-13 board meeting...
...Thursday's statement by the Hollywood board members -- along with New York alternate member Eric Bogosian -- also said the signers support Allen's attempt to enter a final round of negotiations with the congloms, then send the final offer out to the members, but without a recommendation."
Read the full article at:
www.variety.com/article/VR1117998936.html
It may also be more interesting to this site's members when the news mentions a CI cast member.
The short story: SAG is still deadlocked within its own ranks. There are two distinct factions (as there were during the recent board elections): one pushing hardline action, the other more willing to trust in the outcomes of negotiations with the industry (AMPTP). Both sides appear to be well-intended; both want to achieve certain rights and payment objectives on behalf of SAG members. Where they differ hugely is in strategy. SAG national executive director Doug Allen (see article below) is on the hotseat, apparently for trying to forge a compromise between the two warring factions.
Bogosian, an alternate board member, says he's not aligned with either faction.
In conclusion: At this juncture not only is there no looming SAG strike, there also appears to be no looming strike authorization vote.
Boldfaces below are mine.
AL
-------------------------
Allen still at center of SAG debate
Hollywood board endorses national exec
By Dave McNary
Variety
January 22, 2009
Excerpt:
"...SAG denied a widely distributed report late Thursday that its leaders had formally given up on its divisive plan to hold a strike authorization vote. A SAG rep insisted that guild prexy Alan Rosenberg and embattled national exec director Doug Allen had done no such thing, though the guild still hasn't set a date for sending out those strike ballots.
The flap over the fate of the strike authorization comes on the same day that the guild's Hollywood-based hardline members issued a statement of support for Allen. That statement came on the heels of the call by a slim majority of the guild's national board that Allen be fired for mishandling the guild's contract negotiations...
...[T]he strike authorization is looking considerably less likely as the leaders of the hardline faction, led by Rosenberg, also admitted they're backing Allen and his gambit because they've come to the realization that the strike authorization would not gain the necessary 75% approval among SAG members voting on the measure. And the group blamed its inability to sway members on the "questionable tactics" used by an array of forces -- the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers, AMPTP operatives, industry CEOs, industry-dependent media, high-profile producer-actors and some members of the board...
The moderate wing of SAG's national board has pledged it will fire Allen on grounds that he's bungled SAG's negotiations, defied the will of the board and left members without a new feature-primetime contract for nearly eight months. Despite having the votes to toss Allen out, the moderate wing was blocked by Rosenberg and his allies at the marathon Jan. 12-13 board meeting...
...Thursday's statement by the Hollywood board members -- along with New York alternate member Eric Bogosian -- also said the signers support Allen's attempt to enter a final round of negotiations with the congloms, then send the final offer out to the members, but without a recommendation."
Read the full article at:
www.variety.com/article/VR1117998936.html