Hollywood A-Listers Line Up Against SAG Leadership

Growing Number of Actors Support Unite for Strength Faction

By Linda Haugsted -- Multichannel News, 8/15/2008 9:15:00 AM

Opponents of the current leadership of the Screen Actors Guild have high-profile actors supporting their cause, including Sally Fields, Tom Hanks and Alec Baldwin.

These actors, plus Tony Shaloub (USA's Monk), Lewis Black (Comedy Central's The Root of All Evil), Felicity Huffman and Marcia Cross of ABC's Desperate Housewives and others support a faction called Unite for Strength. The faction has fielded a slate to fill 11 of the 33 seats in the Hollywood division of the Screen Actors Guild. Ballots for that election go out next Tuesday.

United for Strength is critical of the current SAG power block, Membership First, led by president Alan Rosenberg. The dissidents are critical of SAG management's fight with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, arguing the unions should unite to fight for more jobs for actors and better pay. SAG and AFTRA bargained separately this cycle for contract agreements. AFTRA reached an accord with producers; SAG called the pact insufficient and has yet to agree to a contract or to meet again with producers.

According to press reports, Field sent an e-mail to SAG membership, urging support for the dissident slate in order to end the “senseless war on AFTRA” and to start building a united front among actors.

The SAG votes are scheduled to be counted on Sept. 18.