SAG censures prexy
H'w'd board calls Gilbert's recorded ATA pitch foul
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The vote, taken Monday night, specifically condemned Gilbert for her "bad judgment" in using personal phone numbers of SAG members. The move came after board members received complaints from constituents about Gilbert's call coming in on their unlisted phone numbers.
Results in balloting for the deal, which eases agency ownership restrictions, will be announced April 19. Although SAG declared the Hollywood vote invalid, the little-used censure gambit underscores how polarized SAG's elected reps have become amid warnings of deregulated chaos if the deal is voted down.
"This is nothing more than an act of desperation by Melissa in attempting to get the ATA proposal passed," said board member Mark Carlton, who made the censure motion. "The invasion of our members' privacy by Melissa's recorded message goes too far."
The vote took place after Gilbert had departed, leaving SAG 1st VP Mike Farrell to chair. He attempted to rule the motion out of order, but was defeated in a challenge of the chair.
Farrell and SAG spokeswoman Ilyanne Kichaven said Tuesday the process used for the censure vote was inconsistent with SAG's constitutional procedures. "This was a strong-arm move to make a publicity statement," Farrell said.
Gilbert issued a statement Tuesday accusing the board of turning the issue into a personal attack and misusing the SAG constitution.
"I urge all SAG members to debate vigorously about substance, but to do so within the limits of mutual respect and good judgment," Gilbert said. "My focus is on strengthening SAG. I feel that it will only weaken our guild if our debates descend into personal attacks or willful distortions of the democratic process."
'Very troubled'
Gilbert won re-election last month with 57% backing after last fall's contest was thrown out for violations by staff. "I am very troubled by the fact that the board members who acted last night did so in my absence and in contravention of my basic rights as a SAG member," she said. "I was charged, tried and convicted, in absentia, in a single evening. This is not treatment consistent with either SAG's constitution or with basic notions of fair play."
The Hollywood board voted 32-1 last month to oppose the Assn. of Talent Agents deal, a week after the national board voted it up by a 57-44 margin. SAG staff also has declared the Hollywood vote invalid and told foes of the deal that they will have to pay to put their message out through SAG avenues, such as SAG's 34,000-member email list.
SAG execs have defended that stance, insisting they are carrying out the policy of the national board. But Hollywood board member Gordon Drake said he had begun exploring legal action on grounds of possible labor law violations due to not giving equal voice to the opposition during the referendum process.
Drake said he may seek an injunction to block implementation if the deal is approved.
With escalation of the debate over the deal, a significant number of Hollywood board members have become dissatisfied with CEO Bob Pisano's role in promoting the pact. The panel voted Monday to request that a Hollywood exec director be named as soon as possible to fill the slot vacated last year.
Letter of protest
In another development, SAG treasurer Kent McCord and five other board members have written a letter of protest to the national board with 19 complaints over SAG staff promoting the deal.
"In an issue of such importance, we think it is imperative on the guild to stand above partisan considerations and to fully inform the membership as to the impact of the proposed agreement," the letter said. "The guild has failed to give the membership this information and has refused to give the 'con' position equal treatment with the 'pro' position and is conducting the referendum in such a way as to prevent proper consideration by members of all the issues."
Complaints included the time period for the referendum being too short; confusing instructions over how to mark the ballots; the requirement that opponents must pay to access SAG members; and the lack of "balance" in the referendum summary.
