SAG, AFTRA working on proposal
Focus is on new feature-primetime contract
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Official negotiations with the majors could start as early as Monday -- a date the companies requested two weeks ago, only to be told by SAG that it needs to complete its prep work for the talks before it can agree to a start date. The current SAG-AFTRA contract expires June 30, and the approach of that date has triggered a scramble to stockpile features as a hedge against another strike.
Starting negotiations swiftly will depend largely on whether the two performers unions can set aside the animosity that's dominated their relationship in recent months. The unions and the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers had no comment Monday.
SAG and AFTRA are holding two days of closed-door meetings of their respective wages and working conditions committees today and Wednesday to formulate the package. The unions will hold a joint board meeting Saturday to sign off on the proposal.
In the wake of the WGA strike and SAG's strong support for the writers, many in Hollywood have concluded that SAG may not automatically settle for the terms of the recent deals for the Directors Guild of America and Writers Guild of America. And SAG leaders have indicated they'll push for better terms than what the DGA and WGA received in their recent deals -- particularly in new media, DVD residuals and language guaranteeing that actors will be consulted on use of their image for any endorsements.
But AFTRA reps occupy 50% of the seats and are expected to take a far more moderate approach. Despite the fact that AFTRA covers only three primetime shows, the smaller union has managed to maintain that level of representation with a variety of manuevers -- including threatening to negotiate a separate deal with the AMPTP.
That threat appears to have convinced SAG to make peace with AFTRA, although the acrimony between the two unions could easily emerge again this week.
News Corp. topper Peter Chernin and Disney CEO Robert Iger -- who teamed in hammering out the outlines of the DGA and WGA deals -- are expected to remain involved in the negotiations with thesps. Both moguls have held meetings with SAG and AFTRA leaders to lay the groundwork for talks over the last two months.
SAG has also has been under pressure from high-profile members such as George Clooney to start negotiations as soon as possible. In addition, more than 1,400 members -- including Amy Brenneman, Charlie Sheen and Meryl Streep -- have asked the SAG board to limit voting on the contract to members who meet a minumum work requirement.
