U.S. acting unions still split as first contract talks begin
Last Updated: Tuesday, April 15, 2008 | 12:48 PM ET
CBC News
As the Screen Actors Guild sits down on Tuesday to begin new contract talks with studio executives, it will be going solo.
The rift between it and fellow union, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, continues after the latter sent a letter reiterating the fact on Monday.
The longtime competitors, who nonetheless have presented a united front for contract negotiations for nearly three decades, recently split amid a bitter dispute.
On the weekend, the guild's national board offered AFTRA an opportunity to reconsider and once again team up for negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
In a letter Monday, AFTRA spurned the offer to reprise joint talks, saying that the "underlying problems" that prompted the two unions' split were still present.
"We extend our best wishes to the members of the Screen Actors Guild negotiating committee in their efforts to negotiate an excellent contract for performers," the letter concluded.
Solo talks after bitter split
Last month, AFTRA announced it was severing ties with SAG and accused the guild of trying to poach some of its members. SAG denied the allegations.
SAG represents about 120,000 actors in film, television and other media, while the smaller AFTRA represents about 70,000 actors, announcers, singers and journalists. About 44,000 members belong to both unions.
Two AFTRA representatives will observe the SAG talks, beginning Tuesday.
AFTRA is scheduled to start its own talks with the AMPTP on April 28 and SAG is expected to send observers to sit in. The studios' current contract with actors expires June 30.
Hollywood eyes are anxiously watching the negotiations, with many hoping to avoid another costly labour stoppage.
As with the recent screenwriters' strike, which lasted more than three months, residual payments for work distributed via newer technologies will be an important factor in the upcoming talks, with the guild also pursuing other issues like a greater share of DVD sales and compensation for product placements.
With files from the Associated PressShare Tools
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