Rhetoric Heats Up As SAG-AMPTP Stalemate Continues
Unions Differ On Contract-Talk Status As Negotiations Drag On
By Linda Haugsted -- Multichannel News, 7/10/2008 9:38:00 PM
The Screen Actors Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers now can't even agree on the status of their contract talks, with the AMPTP stating late Thursday that SAG leadership has refused to accept a “last, best” contract offer and SAG stating that talks will continue.
The AMPTP statement said that SAG's leadership “unreasonably” expects more in its contract than was gained by the writers, directors and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
“Our final offer to SAG members includes more than $250 million in additional compensation, important new media rights and protection for pension and health benefits. The refusal of SAG's Hollywood leadership to accept this offer is the latest in a series of actions by SAG leaders that, in our opinion, puts labor peace at risk,” the AMPTP said in a prepared statement.
It continued: “Any further delay in reaching a reasonable and comprehensive agreement does a disservice to the thousands of working people of our industry who are already being seriously harmed by the ever worsening de facto strike. We call upon SAG's Hollywood leaders to put the AMPTP's final offer to SAG members for ratification.”
SAG will reportedly meet Friday to discuss a response to the AMPTP.
