SAG negotiations resume after break
Oliver: 'Agreement can be made'
Although talks remain under a news blackout, veteran labor observers believe actors' reps will follow the footsteps of the Writers Guild and push the process several days past the June 30 contract deadline. Although the thespians claimed they have slimmed their initial offer to 35 proposals, the actual number is believed to be closer to 80.
The actors have stressed that their goal is to boost minimums and residuals for middle-income members. Industry reps, who have argued they face falling margins, have proposed a discount structure for actors with less than four lines.
Leaders of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists have made no plans for a possible strike and the 500 members at Sunday's midyear meeting for SAG's Hollywood branch showed little inclination to move in that direction. Dominic Oliver, who was active in last year's six-month strike against advertisers, said after the meeting that members are well aware of the impact that another work stoppage would carry.
"I feel strongly that an agreement can be made and should be made to avoid a strike that would be devastating to our industry and destructive to the community," he added. "The negotiators of both sides need to forget individual agendas and sit together over a peace pipe, to guide us into this uncharted world of new ideas and new technologies and build an alliance that benefits us all."
Negotiators, who have held only four sessions since May 15, plan to caucus in the morning and hold face-to-face bargaining in the afternoon.
