More Back & Forth Between SAG/AFTRA

COMMENTS (31)

• Another thing everyone should be aware of:

  U4S was formed expressly around the single issue of qualified voting. President Rosenberg was visited by the people who became the founding members of U4S and told if he didn’t put qualified voting on the table, he “would be challenged.”

  Comment by Red Eye — Thursday August 21, 2008 @ 4:54pm PDT  Reply to this post

• LOL

  I need a 4th for tomorrow afternoon. Harry98, call me if you want in.

  Comment by LP — Thursday August 21, 2008 @ 9:47pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Mr. Fred

  why is it that Apted’s remarks sound like the confident reasoned words of a professional trying to balance protecting his guild members with encouraging innovation…

  …and yours sound like someone who is weak and defensive (or running for office)?

  if SAG is so strong then they should act like it. stop making threats and being frightened by the big bad AMPTP and make a real deal. think longer term than just what’s going to get you elected to the board. think as members of both the creative and the business community…empower yourselves….

  Comment by an observation — Friday August 22, 2008 @ 4:27pm PDT  Reply to this post

• an observatory:

  mr. apted’s words are carefully constructed ass-covering from the guy who put us all in the crapper.

  I’m not running for office. why would I post anonymously if I were running for office. think about it.

  it’s not about sag is “so strong.”

  it’s about apted and the dga screwed the pooch. and what’s with the “threats?” who’s threatening anybody?

  it’s simply a common sense observation (!) that, the reason we’re all in this mess is because the dga, in their reliable as a swiss watch arrogance, undercut the wga and made a bad deal.

  the truth must hurt, because if apted had any real interest in solving this thing, he’d do some version of what I advocate above.

  you don’t allow soulless corporate conglomerates to “experiment” or “have flexibilty” on your dime. period.

  call me crazy.

  Comment by Mr. Fred — Saturday August 23, 2008 @ 10:21am PDT  Reply to this post

• If merging S.A.G. with Aftra is such a good idea then why hasn’t anyone described what that would look like or a plan on how to accomplish it? Would the treasuries be combined? Would the Actors have the Broadcasters support them in a strike or vice versa? What happens to S.A.G.’s Pension & Health and Aftra’s Health & Retirement? Does your S.A.G. Pension accrual rate diminish because you’re now funding Aftra’s Retirement plan also? What about Phase One where Aftra has 50% of the say in the Negotiating Room? How do we have more “leverage” if that continues? So many questions and so far no answers.

  Phase One is the agreement between the two unions to bargain jointly since 1988. This year Aftra took advantage of an alleged “raiding” by S.A.G. of “The Bold &The Beautiful” to “suspend” Phase One and go it alone. Unfortunately for Aftra, Susan Flannery, the Matriarch of B&B, wrote a letter refuting Aftra’s allegation. Please go to:

  http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/bold-beautiful-actress-susan-flannery-wants-to-set-the-aftra-sag-record-straight/

  FYI: Aftra has not only never apologized to S.A.G. for the accusation but never referred to Flannery’s letter.

  Because of multiple failed Merger referendums Aftra decided that in order to survive they would kick into panic mode and secure as much jurisdiction as possible even if it was at the expense of the middle class actor. Because of Aftra’s shameless behavior actors are now enjoying a $509 minimum with free exhibition windows (No residuals) on Comedy Central as opposed to S.A.G.’s scale rate of $759 minimum for any cable show with residuals starting from the first re-run. Aftra is not only offering cut rate contracts to sign hour scripted dramas that have been traditionally S.A.G.’s jurisdiction (Damages. Rescue Me. etc) but has actually started an Indie outreach for feature films in New York. The current Aftra Exhibit A Theatrical Contract that was voted up by a majority of Broadcasters and DJ’s recently, per Aftra’s aggressive campaign for them to do so, has no residuals for product in Made For New Media (The Internet and beyond…). It’s been made crystal clear to the S.A.G. Negotiating Committee by Management that they intend to experiment with “non-union” talent for most if not all the Made For New Media product they intend to produce in the future. The grand punchline to all this is… It’s okay with Aftra. They’re calling it a “groundbreaking” deal.

  So, at this point you’re probably thinking, “What’s the problem? We’ll just merge with Aftra then S.A.G. can control the contracts and P&H.” In a perfect world, yes. But, Phase One is clear that each Union has 50% of the vote in Negotiations even though Aftra only has 5% of Prime Time and 0% of Feature Films. Obviously Aftra has gotten really used to that arrangement and has become religious about it even to the point of rebuffing S.A.G.’s suggestion to have proportional representation in Negotiations so that the Union with the most at stake theatrically can guide the bargaining.

  Aftra has never demonstrated a willingness to fight for any meaningful gains whatsoever. We believe, for instance, that the reason the DVD residual formula hasn’t changed in 27 years is that with Aftra’s 50% vote, along with a few go along get along NY S.A.G. Negotiating Committee Members making up the majority, the DVD proposal is taken off the table the second Aftra senses any resistance from Management. Aftra’s Leadership has proven over and over again that they are not Unionists. It’s all about the institution rather than the members. It’s a myopic Federation of bureaucrats who’s sole purpose is to maintain its offices and six figure executive salaries… The Aftra acting category be damned.

  Since it’s impossible to combine two opposite philosophies then combining S.A.G. with Aftra will never happen.

  Jeff Austin
  Screen Actors Guild Member

  Comment by Jeff Austin — Wednesday August 27, 2008 @ 3:02pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Mr. Fred:

  oh please, blaming the DGA and the WGA is not common sense. It’s just juvenile silliness. SAG is in this mess because SAG currently is, let’s face it, not particularly adept at making deals. and they know it, they know in their gut that they haven’t a modicum of leverage nor can they figure out how to get any.

  but they can’t admit it because SAG is such an intensely political organization. and that is probably because the vast, vast, VAST majority of the guild does not make a living at being in the guild. it’s a really weird guild when you think about it.

  and the leadership of SAG knows as well as anyone that a strike would be as effective as taking poison in the hope that someone else dies.

  so they could get either make a deal and move on or just stand around and argue with each other like some high school debate team.

  what do you think they’re gonna do?

  Comment by an observation — Wednesday August 27, 2008 @ 3:08pm PDT  Reply to this post