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It seems nothing is simple when it comes to SAG/AFTRA relations these days. When I last reported on these guilds, it appeared that the SAG/AFTRA contract talks with the AMPTP could start as soon as the week of March 31st. But on Friday, SAG national executive director Doug Allen sent a letter (see below) to his AFTRA counterpart, Kim Roberts Hedgpeth. Now AFTRA is telling the press that Allen is muddying the waters. While SAG has accused AFTRA of throwing mud at it. My reaction is that AFTRA's readiness to squabble with SAG (although some see it as vice versa) aids the Hollywood CEOs, not the actors:
AFTRA's response to press inquiries about Doug Allen's letter:
“AFTRA asked SAG for a simple, unambiguous written response to President Reardon that stated its commitment to bargain jointly under the Phase One agreement with no changes, conditions, or extraneous issues attached. We are still waiting. In what can only be interpreted as an intentional effort to distract from the priority of the primetime negotiations, the letter from Doug Allen sent late Friday once again raised extraneous issues. As we have noted before and discussed at length, the application of the Phase One agreement in basic cable is a complex matter raising legal and practical issues, which we are open to addressing after the primetime television negotiations are completed and a contract has been ratified. Further, it is disturbing that SAG has failed to confirm in writing a commitment to not hold a referendum to alter or terminate Phase One in the midst of negotiations — an omission that raises questions as to the reliability of SAG's commitment to conclude the W&W process and negotiations under the Phase One process as originally written and practiced since 1981. AFTRA has previously confirmed in writing its commitment to proceed expeditiously to conclude the W&W process and negotiate jointly with SAG, and we are disappointed that SAG has not done the same. AFTRA’s members remain solely focused on pursuing a successful contract negotiation that serves the needs and desires of all members in a timely fashion.”
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These idiots make the WGA negotiating committee look smart.
These jerks don’t realize that these letters and their petty squabbles and reneging doesn’t mean there won’t be a strike this summer… it means there won’t be a union.
Nikki -
The nicest way I can put this is: when you’re dealing with a snake like Doug Allen, you gotta cross your t’s and dot your i’s.
Kim’s just reading it right.
What’s with all the public bickering?
It’s like sticking your own bloody foot in a shark tank.
If you’re going to disagree, then do it in private, not on the eve of major contract negotiations!
There is a very practical reason why negotiating basic cable together now is impossible. SAG bargained with a different employer group when they negotiated basic cable residuals a few years ago. AFTRA negotiates with separate production entities. The AMPTP is not going to help SAG & AFTRA solve this problem. The issue is best left until after the TV/Th negotiations are over.
Is there any reason for the unions to be airing their disagreements in public? Shouldn’t all of this be kept private so as not to help the producers?
AFTRA is the IATSE of actors’ unions. Total corporate tool.
1) So who is reneging? Looks like Doug. So our SAG friends are looking to torpedo join negotiations.
2) AFTRA is simply wanting to get past the important business at hand before complicating everyones life with the inter union negotiation that needs to happen.
3) The real question is who leaked these letters to the media (no offense, Nikki) so that the AMPTP gets to read with all of us… as though they don’t know that Mr. Allen is acting like a pole dancer in Baptist church. I would guess his street cred is definitely gone.
To the questions as to why all of this being played out in public:
To go to media and public airing of internal guild concerns is a ten-year-plus tradition of Performers Alliance/MembershipFirst. They did it for years before taking over SAG, and they just can’t seem to stop themselves. Plus, their technique is being played back to them ten-fold by those they oppose.
Now, MembershipFirst may have thought “Whew, we’re in – we don’t have to play the press anymore.” But now they must not only reap what karma they have sown, they can’t stop the reflex themselves.
That’s it, pure and simple, folks. The MembershipFirst objective has never been to negotiate a smart contract. It has always been Get Into Power, and then, Hold Onto Power & Expand Power. They are well-practiced in public demagoguery and outrage, but they haven’t got a clue to strategic planning for negotiations. Never have. Never will.
While it is unfortunate that the points of disagreement between SAG and AFTRA are currently being aired publicly, let us not for a moment forget the bigger picture. We (I’m a SAG member) are stronger in solidarity.
One report I heard pegged the probability of an actors’ strike at roughly 50 percent. While nobody wants a strike, the AMPTP must be informed through the solidarity and resolve of the membership of both unions that we will do whatever it takes to get a fair contract.
Yeah, Doug sent a professional letter, AFTRA responded with a typical unecessary, divisive, obnoxious screed designed to undermine negotiations. If SAG would stop behaving professionally, AFTRA would stop behaving like petty corporate tools. Damn you SAG!
So who is at fault here? Between the two guilds, it is clearly AFTRA. Here SAG is willing to negotiate together with AFTRA and AFTRA is trying to be first to the bargaining table so that they get to dictate what happens at the table and what deal SAG gets. In more techincal terms it is called “Last one there is a Rotten Egg.” For the record, this is also described as being the first at a buffet or at a litter of puppies or cats, because you will likely get the best pick.
As for Nikki’s role in this, let her be. This is her job. At least she is also helping both sides by warning them that bickering can only hurt their chance at getting a good deal. At least we don’t have any reports of AMPTP companies shutting down movie production in fear of a strike that might never come.
Jesse S is clueless.
AFTRA was NEVER the aggressor in this. SAG initiated the breach of Phase One last July. AFTRA has had to be almost completely in a defensive posture throughout this entire ordeal. AFTRA was setting a date, NOT to go first, but having had its partnership broken, it was proceeding with the normal timing of normal negotiations. Remember, the AFTRA contract is a SEPARATE contract.
Brinkmanship will get SAG no where…..except locked out. And Jesse, read a paper…..movies HAVE been postponed due to lack of assured labor peace.
As to bickering in public, the industry has been watching the SAG melt-down for years now…..this is nothing new to them. As Tom said above, the PA/MF has been feeding all this to the press.
And what a waste all of this has been. And I repeat, SAG has been the aggressor in this dispute.
And how did SAG initiate a breach of Phase One. It has to be an action by AFTRA that caused the breach. Connie, let’s just agree that both guilds are in an defensive position. All SAG wants to do is ensure joint negotiations, and for that to happen, both guilds need to get along.
Also, I know that movies are getting shut down due to the lack of labor peace, but that is unfair to AMPTP companies, SAG actors, DGA members, IATSE members, and WGA members because the last time I checked people and organizations worked right up to the strike deadline. The last major round of baseball negotiations in 2002 saw most players reporting for duty on Friday morning on what could have been strike day one and almost to the point that the media made a total show of the Boston Red Sox waiting for a deal so they can board a chartered flight to Cleveland. In addition, this past November, WGA members worked right on up until the strike, and the restraining order that goes with it, was applied.
In the case of this possible strike, we have a possible deadline date of 12:01 AM local time Monday July 14. That gives everybody about 111 days, from Wednesday March 19th, to reach an agreement before a strike goes into effect. I can understand a situation like Chicago 7, which Nikki posted, where casting is an issue and the filming, which was slated to start in April, could be pushed off until either June or July. However, most deals that should be slated to start filming as late as Mid May should be able to get started. In fact, most studios can start filming on a project as late as mid June. As a result, more projects are done, and both sides are pressured to come to an settlement in contract negotiations.
Canceling filming due to fears of a strike isn’t going to avert a strike, but it is going to cause the SAG/AFTRA and AFL/CIO to go forward with a compliant to the NLRB, or worse, force the SAG/AFTRA to file a lawsuit charging unfair business practices. This could and will cause problems before any strike is in play, and if the AMPTP does do a major shutdown of production, get ready for a long court battle and strike. For any normal industry, it should be total and 100% work until you get a settlement otherwise there may be a strike. The AMPTP is trying to get “work” out of the equation just to avoid tense negotiations and try to force another strike. This is an immoral way to get an union to cave, and I pray that the SAG doesn’t fall for that trick.
Jessy S.,
Just wondering where you got that silly idea about SAG/AFTRA filing a NLRB complaint or a lawsuit against the AMPTP for shutting down production early because of fear of a strike???
I have no industry affiliation, but I know that production on films cannot begin if they cannot get insurance coverage. Maybe I was a dreaming, but I believe I read that nobody is willing to insure filming until this contract has been resolved. I am pretty confident I read that, because I remember SAG issuing a letter saying they would guarantee all actors availability on any onging project as long as it was an production entity without AMPTP afiliation.
So what the hell are you talking about? SAG’s letter concedes that the AMPTP will be forced to shut down production prior to any potential strike (and that they are willing to give relief only to companies outside the AMPTP). Makes it kind of hard to file a successful complaint or lawsuit after you have acknowldege in writing that you don’t want them to able to produce anything. It makes it hard to take anything you say serious when you come up with off the wall ideas like that that have no basis in reality.