SAG, AMPTP To Meet Next Week
Allen's Ouster Breaks Stalemate
Linda Haugsted -- Multichannel News, 1/29/2009 12:17:11 PM
The replacement of the chief negotiator for the Screen Actors Guild appears to have broken the ice in the stalemate with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
The two guilds issued a terse announcement late Wednesday that the factions will meet in Los Angeles on Feb. 3 and 4.SAG has been without a contract since last June, when the former negotiator Doug Allen, and the SAG board of directors rejected the last, best offer from the producers.
The two sides are at odds on several issues, the thorniest of which is how actors will be compensated for content made for the Internet. The offer replicated compensation terms accepted by other Hollywood unions, such as the unions for writers and directors, for content originally telecast then re-run on the Internet, but the actors' leadership believe that compensation is insufficient.
Given the state of the economy, though, more moderate members of SAG have suggested that the union accept the compensation as now offered in this contract cycle, but bring the issue up again in negotiations in three years.
With the ouster of Allen by a majority of the board, SAG has formed a new task force of union members and executives to meet with the AMPTP. The meeting is scheduled for the AMPTP offices.
Screen Actors Guild Rejects AMPTP Offer
07/18/2008AMPTP Runs Ads Touts DGA Deal
07/21/2008AMPTP, WGA Exchange More Harsh Words
12/02/2008SAG Nixes AMPTP 'Last, Best, Final' Offer
02/22/2009AMPTP Ends SAG Talks
05/07/2008
