AFTRA Delays Contract Talks With Producers
Actors' Union Says Producers Want More Time To Focus On Screen Actors Guild Negotiations
By Linda Haugsted -- Multichannel News, 4/23/2008 11:51:00 AM
The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists said it will delay beginning contract talks with producers, citing a request for time by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
AFTRA and the AMPTP had planned to begin negotiations on April 28, but now say they've mutually agreed to move the start date to May 5. This gives the AMPTP more time to focus on talks, currently underway, with the Screen Actors Guild.
Talks with SAG are now in the middle of their second week, and both parties have agreed to a news black-out on the progress of negotiations.
AFTRA was supposed to negotiate simultaneously with SAG, but AFTRA executives had a falling out with SAG over alleged efforts by SAG to get an AFTRA shop on a soap opera to decertify, the first step toward joining SAG instead.
SAG represents most movie and primetime television actors, but AFTRA represents some primetime series, such as Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Flight of the Conchords on HBO.
In a statement, AFTRA said it agreed to the delay in order to give the SAG/AMPTP talks "a chance to succeed." The AFTRA pact expires in June.
