SAG tars Bush for nonunion ad
Governor 'is no friend of labor,' Daniels sez
"He's running for president on the promise of integrity, honor and trust but his word apparently means very little," Daniels said.
The union chief said SAG and the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists -- now in the 71st day of their work stoppage -- were "extremely disappointed" about the commercial shot recently in New Jersey and New York.
"His nonunion commercial shoot was not only an insult to SAG and AFTRA members but also sends a clear message to the over 13 million AFL-CIO union members and their families that George W. Bush is no friend of labor," Daniels added.
SAG and AFTRA announced in early May that the media consultants for the campaigns for Bush and Vice President Al Gore had signed interim agreements, allowing them to use union actors.
But Bush's campaign issued a casting notice in late June for non-union actors who would play "real-looking" people (Daily Variety, June 29).
More than 50 union supporters picketed the shoots in Demarest, N.J., and at a residence in the Prospect Park section of Brooklyn on Friday and Saturday, according to SAG member Victor Verhaeghe. Production was handled by Johnson Burnett, he added.
"The producers looked like they were trying to put together a montage of real people and add a voiceover later," Verhaeghe said. "We were very effective at disrupting their shoot."
The casting notice said the spot was seeking "everyday people" with a strong emphasis on Hispanic and Caucasian. Actors were offered $1,000 for a day's work plus $500 for the second day if needed without any residuals -- far below what actors would be paid under an interim deal.
The Bush campaign and its media consulting firm, Stevens & Schriefer, have not responded to inquiries for comment about the nonunion spot.
