Actors Union Delays Vote on Strike
Board to Meet Face-to-Face In Bid to Shore Up Authorization
by Linda Haugsted -- Multichannel News, 1/4/2009 7:00:00 PM
Los Angeles — In an effort to shore up support for a “yes” strike-authorization vote, the National Division of the Screen Actors Guild has called for a face-to-face meeting of all 70 board members on Jan. 12 here to see if pro-strike factions can “restore consensus,” according to a message to SAG members from Doug Allen, chief union negotiator.
As a result, the distribution of strike-authorization ballots will be delayed until after the meeting. They were originally set to be sent out last Friday (Jan. 2), now they will be sent to members and returned in the three-week period after the live meeting.
The member communique acknowledges that, at the moment, 1,373 actors, including 100 “high profile” stars, have lent their names to an opposition campaign, while 2,524 members, also including 100 top stars, have stated their strike support. If that proportion is representative of overall union sentiment, the pro-strike forces would not carry the day, as a strike would have to be approved by at least 75% of those who vote in the authorization poll.
The special meeting, called by SAG president Alan Rosenberg and Allen, will discuss how to “restore the consensus demonstrated by the National Board at our October meeting.”
The meeting is expected to last into Jan. 13.
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