SAG’s New Leadership Squanders A-List Assisted Opportunity For Backchannel Communications With Hollywood CEOs

COMMENTS (75)

• I think that A-List actors should stay at home during these negotiations. They’re millionaires already. These negotiations affect greatly to the majority of SAG members who can barely make a living from their work. Mr. Tom Hanks has millions of dollars in the bank and I wonder if he cares even a little about the little people who aspire to a position where he currently is. By sabotaging New Media negotiations, those who are “trying to help”, are actually ruining the future of most of the SAG membership.

  Comment by Actor — Wednesday March 11, 2009 @ 8:50pm PDT  Reply to this post

• If the Feb. 19 offer is sent out with a June 30, 2011 expiration date, it will be ratified by at least a 60% majority, probably even better. It’s not a “lousy” contract, except in the minds of certain hardliners.

  Comment by LA VO — Wednesday March 11, 2009 @ 8:56pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Neville Chamberlain would be proud. This “National Majority” is not made up of union leaders, but corporate patsies giggling behind closed curtains while they fondle the help. Apart from storming Museum Square in a Bastille-like revolt, what are our options?

  Comment by Stewart Skelton — Wednesday March 11, 2009 @ 9:10pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Folks; if you’re not appalled, you’re not paying attention. The SAG National Majority is selling you out in the most appalling, disgraceful and traitorous way.

  Comment by Hank Yablonski — Wednesday March 11, 2009 @ 9:23pm PDT  Reply to this post

• I believe it was Jack Warner who said,’The only difference between the movie business and organized crime is that the movie business ain’t organized’. Can there be no young hotshot in the Justice Department who might see an opening for RICO in all of this? Might be a great way to rapidly lift a career in the Law.And Tom,thanks for getting involved. Now, stand up for us will ya?

  Comment by James Cagney — Wednesday March 11, 2009 @ 9:32pm PDT  Reply to this post

• SAG is not a union. It’s a doormat.

  Start a new union, folks. Won with teeth.

  Comment by helenofpeel — Wednesday March 11, 2009 @ 9:42pm PDT  Reply to this post

• The National Board has NOT stated its intent “to never send out the LB&FO contract to the membership for ratification.” It voted to reject the LB&FO as it currently stands. If the issue of contract expiration is satisfactorily addressed, the National Board will send the contract to members with its recommendation. It’s that simple. The members absolutely will get the last word on the contract.

  And I’ll bet as much as you like that they will approve it handily, despite what will surely be the fevered efforts of your most loyal commenters. Most SAG members only have to read how completely SAG has been killed in terms of organizing this year’s pilots to understand that Membership First’s insane strategy — of demonizing and alienating AFTRA, then stupidly failing to make a deal when they had the room first, and then even more stupidly holding out for some fantasy deal even after AFTRA had already ratified a contract — has been a true and unmitigated DISASTER.

  Assuming the issue of the contract expiration is fixed – and make no mistake, that is a HUGE deal, no matter what your MF-concentrated comments brigade says – MOST SAG members will be thrilled with the prospect of getting feature production going again, getting a healthy pay raise, and voting up a contract which preserves our ability to recapture for the 2011 negotiation the leverage so stupidly destroyed by MF.

  Admittedly, this contract isn’t as good as one that might have been negotiated jointly — or much better still by a single union representing all performers. But that ship sailed a long time ago, thanks to MF. Mercifully, their days are numbered. Just look one more time at those pilot numbers, folks: THAT is what MF delivered to you.

  Comment by Drysdale — Wednesday March 11, 2009 @ 9:48pm PDT  Reply to this post

• The only mistake I saw MF ever pull was to not get a strike authorization in the absense of a fair contract. A fair contract is something we have yet to see with MF or US at the helm.

  What we have now is the AMPTP standing in as our SAG Majority and our SAG negotiators for our contract. And no one is doing anything about it. Our by-laws are there to serve us. But no one will step forward. Our membership can act. But no one will begin the process. It is not enough to make commentary on here. It must start with a fight. With a coordinated effort to remove those with power. Who is going to start this? We had a crooked President walk on this country, cause a Depression (pretty much) and got away with it scott-free!! So who will stand up? Who will stand up? Who is going to stand up to them?!!!

  Comment by Member — Wednesday March 11, 2009 @ 10:15pm PDT  Reply to this post

• So….Drysdale,

  IF you send it out on time and IF the membership turns it down, will you and your group then go away? I do mostly movies and am NOT a member of MF.Why don’t you go over and just work AFTRA gigs and leave the film people in peace.Thank you.

  Comment by James Cagney — Wednesday March 11, 2009 @ 10:38pm PDT  Reply to this post

• I look at SAG leadership, and the AMPTP; and I see two groups of people who, apparently have decided that the way forward is to destroy themselves, and the industry as a whole..all for ego. all for power. Backstabbed my ned vaughn’s crew,; doug allen got et tu brute’d; rosenberg, it seems, was fighting the good fight, even if execution was poor. financial core is pointless, because SAG has no power; I can, after this contract, work with impunity, because if the studios want to hire me as an actor on a film, they will, union or non, and SAG’s actions against me if I violate global rule 1 won’t amount to much at all. honestly, cutting out the members, refusing to give us our right to vote on this contract is an act of treason. This is collusion by some at SAG, and the AMPTP, against SAG membership. it’s time for a justice dept investigation of both sides.

  Comment by VOguy — Wednesday March 11, 2009 @ 10:38pm PDT  Reply to this post

• The Companies sending their errand Boys Hanks and Clooney to “nudge” these talks along sounds like they are starting to sweat the lack of Film Product for 011 facing them, as many Productions remain stalled.

  I wonder how many of those stalled Productions involve Hanks and Clooney (Both Producers, mind you).

  My best guess is this Neg is going nowhere unless a 2 year deal with SAG is reached. The Companies can’t have their cake and eat it too. Sending Producers Hanks and Clooney won’t fool anyone at this point. SAG Members know this deal sucks but at least they might ratify it if they know they can revisit it in a stronger position with WGA in 011.

  The Companies should (but won’t) agree to a 2 yr SAG deal, take their lumps and prepare to go to WAR with the “Collective” Guild (WGA/SAG) bargaining coming their way. Otherwise the clock will start becoming their enemy very soon, if it isn’t already.

  Hey AMPTP, your Corporate Boards are calling…

  Comment by Hmm — Wednesday March 11, 2009 @ 10:52pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Drysdale,

  If that contract had been negotiated jointly, SAG would have been screwed just like they’ve been screwed every time negotiating jointly. At least people who listen and think for themselves are starting to come around and see how terrible all those contracts were that they signed.

  IATSE members are as screwed by their leadership as any of the other guilds. SAG is no different. At least they are not caving in. At least the members aren’t caving in. Looks like the NBM is caving in with what Ms. Fink just wrote.

  Comment by that's it folks! — Wednesday March 11, 2009 @ 11:03pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Drysdale…

  Healthy pay raise? What are you smoking? This deal reduces residuals 97% when our work is rerun on the internet… where most repeats will be in the future.

  AFTRA and the AMPTP did this to us together, and MF’s big mistake was not being much more aggressive and neutralizing AFTRA when it had the chance. AFTRA doesn’t act on behalf of its members… it’s gobbling up the jurisdiction to pump up it’s nearly bankrupt Pension plan. No one making a living as an actor will vote this deal up – it stinks to high heaven.

  Comment by Oh Plueeeze — Wednesday March 11, 2009 @ 11:06pm PDT  Reply to this post

• James Cagney should be ashamed for using a great actor as his nom de plum.

  Comment by macb — Wednesday March 11, 2009 @ 11:18pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Another week. Another SAG blunder.

  I can’t believe we’re still talking about this.

  Comment by what else is new? — Wednesday March 11, 2009 @ 11:24pm PDT  Reply to this post

• To Whom It May Concern,

  The reactions being exhibited by the SAG National Board majority and acting NED to any suggestions of forward, positive motion for the good of the membership are indeed sad but mostly indicative of exactly what Nikki Finke and many many others have been calling out as wrong.
  I came to Hollywood from being an active, working member in the Miami, Fla RBD (hardly an inconsequential Branch) and
  also had a production company there and am very connected to the state of Florida and other cities and know
  that this “undeclared work stoppage or slowdown” is in full effect in NY and the RBDs and thus seriously affecting the business and the bottom line.
  So much so that a number of people I know that are very busy, well respected, hard working bi coastal pros of various positions have moved back here to LA due to the lack of work in “location” cities.
  As much as the SAG National Board Majority, USF, the RBDs and New York may not like it, the facts are, that most of the work is done and most work generated and administered in and from Hollywood.
  Minimally, the board must send the AMPTP’s last, best and final offer to the membership for a vote.
  I repeat, must, for it is the membership that we all must serve and it is the membership that must decide their futures and our contracts.
  It is not the place of the board to make those decisions for membership but to advise and act upon the decisions of membership.
  Any actions that attempt to circumvent membership being allowed to vote on their own contract is a betrayal and abdication of SAG negotiators and the board’s responsibility to their role and to those they are sworn to serve.

  Resoundingly, I have seen an ever increasing wave of members formerly against any hint of a work stoppage, now angered by the madness in the boardroom and thus further endangerment of their careers and families and now seeking a voice via a vote on “SOMETHING!, ANYTHING!” Dues paying, working members are angry and frustrated and in fear of ending up with nothing but added expense being shoved down their throats by people who seem to be “either producers or producer’s puppets.”
  I had one well known actor actually ask “do they all have production deals like Tom Hanks and George Clooney? Isn’t that illegal?”…I kid you not.
  This, from a person who just before the actions of the National Board minor majority, just wanted to work and not be involved.
  Someone has apparently sold the USF and National Board Majority a bill of goods that apparently, does not include knowledge or recognition of the rules of conduct nor holding and maintaining the best interests of membership in mind and heart. Partisanship, contrary agendas and blame have no place in this.
  All sides need to work together for the good of us all.

  Having also worked in production on major projects, I know that virtually everywhere but LA is viewed as “location” so, the irony and madness of the resistance of NY and the RBDs to supporting our negotiators in securing a fair deal for all to get us back to work is akin to a snake eating it’s own tail while blaming everyone but itself for it’s own demise…yet it continues to feed.
  My decisions and opinions are made after seeking and learning the facts, considering them and then forming an opinion based on the facts.
  To form, espouse and support an opinion without gathering the facts is as I understand it, the working definition of a fool.
  Send us the deal and let us decide, armed with the facts and let us all stand together however we choose. I also find it sad that a number of “A listers” that support this very bad and insulting deal, are the same people whose children’s births and health care were paid for by health care benefits that will no longer be available to many of those that helped them get where they are today.

  At the end of the day, most producers are primarily business folk and as such, are unamused by profit loss and disruption of income flows and thus business itself. At a certain point, the real powers must by necessity, make a deal to continue making the landmark profits that they have been so uncharacteristically quiet about whilst trumpeting how unreasonable actors are
  .
  We owe it to membership to send out the AMPTP’s last, best and final offer for their vote. If the deal is ratified by membership, then that is their mandate, if not, we then at the very least know where we stand and can act accordingly to either resume negotiations in good faith or send out a Strike Authorization Vote which does not necessarily mean a strike in these tough economic times but clearly sends a message that we are united and willing and serious about making a fair deal.

  The times are not much different than conditions were when SAG was formed and to add insult and confuse the real agenda of pushing through “new media” with essentially no compensation for actors, the AMPTP seek to remove provisions that were fought for and have been part of our contracts since the beginning.
  We need a fair and reasonable deal for all parties, performers and producers, to enable us all, the entire community, to move together into an exciting and productive future.
  It is my understanding that of over 800 signatories who found SAG’s original contract proposals fair and acceptable, only the few represented by the AMPTP have chosen this path, the others, signed.

  Solidarity, education and sanity must prevail and I have faith that this is possible and imminent.
  Business without honor is by it’s nature, dishonorable.
  All for one and one for all.
  In Solidarity,
  David Anthony Pizzuto
  SAG member

  Comment by David — Wednesday March 11, 2009 @ 11:29pm PDT  Reply to this post

• “The National Board has NOT stated its intent “to never send out the LB&FO contract to the membership for ratification.”

  Dear Drysdale, you either don’t read what’s been happening, or you are willfully wearing blinders. Who do you work for? The AMPTP?

  It’s been clearly stated by the NED that their are “members of the Board” who don’t want the membership to vote on the contract.

  And it’s hard for me to believe you don’t know that. So my only take on this is you are intentionally obfuscating the point in order to cause further confusion and INACTION by the membership to achieve your goal of the AMPTP (and U4S) to implement the contract without a vote.

  And that is EXACTLY what is going to happen. Just watch.

  Justine Batemen is right. Real union members need a REAL union. Better start a new one…

  Comment by helenofpeel — Wednesday March 11, 2009 @ 11:45pm PDT  Reply to this post

• SAG leadership is using the the four-stage war strategy made famous by the French during WWII: RUN, HIDE, SURRENDER, COLLABORATE.

  Comment by Tommy D — Thursday March 12, 2009 @ 6:30am PDT  Reply to this post

• The arguments of many on this board is for the National board to abdicate its responsibility to get the best offer it can: the MF led board abdicated it’s responsibility to negotiate in good faith. The only thing that needs to be settled now is the duration of the contract. The rest is smoke meant to obscure the absolute failure of the Doug Allen led team to get a contract — indeed any contract, since 7 contracts have now expired. Lousy lousy leadership. what we have in place now is much better, and much more sane. Most actors I know want feature production to ramp back up so work opportunities increase and they can provide for themselves and their families. Making a stance on an illusory stream of money is ridiculous.

  Comment by macb — Thursday March 12, 2009 @ 6:42am PDT  Reply to this post

• Nutso Crazy. Helen is right and I have suggested it a dozen times here. So ALL guilds listen up. We. Lost.
  A long time ago. And when the DGA, of whom I am a member, realize that the gig is up, there is only ONE way to fix this for good. A NEW GUILD, comprised of all the guilds, including IATSE. DGA will be the last to give up because so much money is had upfront. But when they realize how much residual money they will not be getting, and how much their agents will not be able to negotiate up front once the producers start saying ‘no’ (many directors do not work regularly, folks, shhh, big secret!)then they, too, will come on board. That will take time, because so many board members from all the guilds will lose their power. I suggest a multi-union board of everyone currently seated on every board to get things going, and see if they can work out the MONEY part of the deal, and then worry about sharing power. It is the only way to earn a living down the road, and you all know it. The producers have won this game. Time to start a new game, and we make the rules. This will take time because everyone will have to admit defeat. Capitulation is a bitch. But the new SAGAFTRAWGADGAIATSE guild will be a thing of beauty!

  Comment by Bravo2009 — Thursday March 12, 2009 @ 6:49am PDT  Reply to this post

• Times now are nowhere near how they were when SAG was started.
  Most of the founding members were contract players or steadily-working actors.
  There were no masses of unemployed actors or extras in the guild.
  The difference in membership is key.
  Today there are many of us who have worked for years supporting ourselves & families as professional actors
  and many of us rely on the Pension & Health and Health & Retirement benefits.
  Those funds are in trouble.
  A strike, for instance would decimate SAG P&H.
  To gamble the lives of many seasoned professionals on the CHANCE that all re-runs will be internet-based within 2 or 3 years is unconscionable.
  Who are these voices of impassioned recklessness who want to further weaken and perhaps destroy SAG?
  Go get some acting work if you can find it these days.
  Build a resume as an actor – not as someone who can hold their breath for a long time.
  For God’s sake, people, can’t you give the folks who just took charge of the guild
  at least HALF the time and chance you gave to the former rulers?

  Comment by soleyn fenix — Thursday March 12, 2009 @ 6:26am PDT  Reply to this post

• Ok, enough is enough! Sign the damn deal & let’s get working. Especially in this economy noone is going to force any more money out of an already bankrupt system. Everyone is hurting & making sacrifices & all SAG can do is act like primadonnas during a time when a 2-3 year contract is going to be irrelevant given the fact this world economy will still be in repair during the next 2-3 years anyway. SAG thinks they deserve any better than the other unions?! I can’t believe this is still a problem.

  Comment by James — Thursday March 12, 2009 @ 9:14am PDT  Reply to this post

• Mr. Pizzuto says “It is not the place of the board to make those decisions for membership but to advise and act upon the decisions of membership.”

  Of course it is. That’s why you elect a board: to represent the membership. The Board owes it to the membership to send out a deal it can recommend, not one they think will get voted down. That’s leadership . Leadership is not attacking other unions, dividing a membership among itself, fabricating facts lacking proof of being factual. Your arguments, though purportedly clear, give themselves away on the Hollywood being the majority argument. Backward thinking. We are a National Union. Same thinking went into AFTRA not having so much of the work, and look what happened with that.

  Comment by macb — Thursday March 12, 2009 @ 9:19am PDT  Reply to this post

• David Anthony Pizzuto makes some excellent points. The most important one to SAG members in my opinion is members who now make the minimums to qualify for health insurance coverage for themselves and their children will never be able to make those minimums under the new contract.

  Some years I myself qualify for health care some years I don’t. That is my reality as a 15 year member. That is a reality which I accepted.

  But members need to understand under this new contract I, and many actors like myself, will never ever be able to makes the minimums to qualify for health insurance.

  UFS is shameful. And members like Clooney who go overseas for photo ops with underprivileged children to show how human they are nothing but frauds when they support this contract that will deny his coworkers and our own children health care while the studios and Mr. Clooney himself rake in millions and millions.

  Remember when you see Clooney with Barbara Walters looking so kind in a group of kids overseas he is willing to kick our children out of his way to get there.

  Comment by pb — Thursday March 12, 2009 @ 9:42am PDT  Reply to this post

• Anyone who doubts the agenda of the AMPTP might want to spend a bit of time checking out HULU.com.
  Internet streaming televisions are available at Best Buy and your local neighborhood electronics store now.
  Again, no one wants a strike…just a fair deal for all.

  Comment by david — Thursday March 12, 2009 @ 9:55am PDT  Reply to this post