IA urges early talks

Org prexy pushes unions to avoid disruption

By DAVE MCNARY

Short

IATSE prexy Thomas Short has joined the push for early negotiations for the town's writers and actors.

In an announcement about the Intl. Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees' pending ratification vote of its own contract, Short strongly suggested that SAG, AFTRA and the WGA launch negotiations on their basic film-TV contracts as soon as possible. The scribes' contract expires in May 2004 and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television & Radio Artists pact is up two months after that.

Although IATSE's current contract expires in July, ratification ballots go out this week on the tentative agreement. Short said in the announcement that he hopes the other unions will follow in the footsteps of the IA and begin early negotiations for their guilds as well to stabilize the industry and its employment patterns.

Directors Guild prexy Martha Coolidge made a similar pitch to the Writers Guild of America and SAG two weeks ago. Both unions negotiated three days past film-TV contract expiration in 2001 after studios had built up a massive inventory due to fear of a strike.

The IA's tentative agreement was negotiated in four days in November and then nearly fell apart over differences in interpretation (Daily Variety, Jan. 13).

Deal includes gains in wages, pension plan, individual account plan and Internet jurisdiction and maintains eligibility for the health plan through $54 million in cost savings. Critics have urged a no vote due to hikes in health plan co-pays; wage freezes on first- and second-year episodic TV; and reduced wages for some single-camera half-hour episodics.