It looks like everyone’s union agreement is up this year and it is now SAG and AFTRA’s turn up at bat. We get wind of this negotiation news from the caves of Yahoo:
After months of industrywide angst, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) will sit down Tuesday at the bargaining table with the Hollywood studios and the networks.
SAG, which has for decades jointly bargained with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), will go it alone this time. AFTRA on Monday rejected an 11th-hour offer from SAG to join in on the negotiations. AFTRA suspended the so-called Phase One joint bargaining three weeks ago, claiming that SAG was trying to take over jurisdiction on the soap opera “The Bold and the Beautiful.”
SAG brings a large package of proposals to the talks, including a comprehensive residual platform for new media and an increase in the DVD/home video formula. But the union has two weeks to cover all these bases before AFTRA begins its talks, and some experts say the two-week spread gives AFTRA an edge. “I think AFTRA has checkmated SAG by setting up negotiations in two weeks,” he said. “They’ve undercut SAG by saying, ‘Look, you make your deal or else we’ll come in and make our deal, which is more accommodating.”‘
I can’t believe The Bold And the Beautiful was the wedge that drove these unions into separate camps. After the writer’s strike everyone wants these deals wrapped up asap. I would hazard a guess that everything will be resolved shortly. I cannot see another strike being in anyones best interest at this point. If network television gets mussed up for another season, I fear we may have riots in the streets.
We will be sure to keep you posted on the progress of these negotiations and with luck, they will go smoothly.
