QUOTE
SAG says studios offered more to sister union
LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Screen Actors Guild on Wednesday accused major Hollywood studios of offering a contract deal worth less than an agreement approved by the leaders of a smaller actors union.
SAG executive director Doug Allen told The Associated Press the offer to the guild was worth tens of millions of dollars less than the tentative contract reached with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
The deal with the federation was reached during a temporary halt in the talks between SAG and the studios.
"When we came back to the table, what they offered us, then and since, is tens of millions of dollars less than the AFTRA deal itself," Allen said. "It's obvious that they are trying to get us to bargain up to a deal they already know is unacceptable."
SAG declined to immediately provide details on the differences in the offers.
Months ago, the guild had vowed to gain a better contract than its sister union in areas such as residual payments for DVD appearances, mileage reimbursement and fees for Internet content.
Jesse Hiestand, a spokesman for the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, declined to comment on the bargaining position of studios.
"We are approaching the conclusion of the process," he said. "The bargaining continues."
SAG is urging the 70,000 members of AFTRA to vote against the tentative contract deal reached May 28 because its terms would handcuff ongoing negotiations between SAG and the studios.
In response to the guild's statement Wednesday, AFTRA said "SAG hasn't won any increases for its members - perhaps because it's been too busy trying to undermine the AFTRA deal to be able to negotiate one of its own."
The unions share 44,000 members.
Results of the AFTRA ratification vote are due July 8. The contracts of both unions expire Monday.
Allen has said the guild was willing to negotiate past the end of the contract without calling for a strike vote by members.
The two unions share 44,000 members.
The labor groups split acrimoniously in March over accusations of member poaching and decided to negotiate with the studios separately for the first time in 27 years.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Screen Actors Guild on Wednesday accused major Hollywood studios of offering a contract deal worth less than an agreement approved by the leaders of a smaller actors union.
SAG executive director Doug Allen told The Associated Press the offer to the guild was worth tens of millions of dollars less than the tentative contract reached with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
The deal with the federation was reached during a temporary halt in the talks between SAG and the studios.
"When we came back to the table, what they offered us, then and since, is tens of millions of dollars less than the AFTRA deal itself," Allen said. "It's obvious that they are trying to get us to bargain up to a deal they already know is unacceptable."
SAG declined to immediately provide details on the differences in the offers.
Months ago, the guild had vowed to gain a better contract than its sister union in areas such as residual payments for DVD appearances, mileage reimbursement and fees for Internet content.
Jesse Hiestand, a spokesman for the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, declined to comment on the bargaining position of studios.
"We are approaching the conclusion of the process," he said. "The bargaining continues."
SAG is urging the 70,000 members of AFTRA to vote against the tentative contract deal reached May 28 because its terms would handcuff ongoing negotiations between SAG and the studios.
In response to the guild's statement Wednesday, AFTRA said "SAG hasn't won any increases for its members - perhaps because it's been too busy trying to undermine the AFTRA deal to be able to negotiate one of its own."
The unions share 44,000 members.
Results of the AFTRA ratification vote are due July 8. The contracts of both unions expire Monday.
Allen has said the guild was willing to negotiate past the end of the contract without calling for a strike vote by members.
The two unions share 44,000 members.
The labor groups split acrimoniously in March over accusations of member poaching and decided to negotiate with the studios separately for the first time in 27 years.
...so there!
Well, I guess I'm not enough of a "team player" because I was not aware of such a thing. But you've got my curiosity piqued, so I imagine that WILL be, after I check the site out! As long as I don't get stuck in a cubicle near Creed (guy looks like he'd microwave some really stinky leftovers and then eat them at his desk)
