UPDATES Behind-The-Scenes Of Basic Cable Pact: Members Almost Lost Right To Vote

Los Angeles (August 26, 2009) – Screen Actors Guild announced today that members have approved a two-year successor contract to its Basic Cable Live Action agreement by a vote of 93.71% percent to 6.29% percent. The agreement is effective retroactive to June 10, 2009 and will expire concurrently with the Guild’s Theatrical Motion Picture and Television agreements on June 30, 2011.

With this vote, representing a 25.83% percent return, the Guild has now ratified its sixth contract this year. Integrity Voting Systems of Everett, WA, provided election services and tonight certified the final vote tally upon completion of the tabulation.

The terms of the agreement include a 3 percent wage increase retroactive to June 10, 2009, a .5% increase in pension contributions also retroactive to June 10, 2009 and a 3.5 percent wage increase on June 10, 2010.

Screen Actors Guild President Alan Rosenberg said, “The members have spoken and I am pleased that they had an opportunity to have their voices heard.”

“We are pleased to have this negotiation concluded so that our members can enjoy the enhanced benefits guaranteed under the new agreement,” said Screen Actors Guild Interim National Executive Director David White. “Cable is a burgeoning marketplace for our members and will continue to be an area of focused attention for SAG.”

SAG Chief Negotiator and Senior Advisor John McGuire said the new agreement “delivers growth in wages while providing the additional peace of mind of improved pension and health contributions, which is important to the wellbeing of both our individual members and the Guild as a whole.”

At its July 25 meeting, the Screen Actors Guild National Board of Directors voted 95 percent to 5 percent to recommend that the membership approve the proposed successor to the Basic Cable Live Action agreement. Ballots were mailed August 5 with a return date of August 26. Tabulation was performed by election services company Integrity Voting Systems of Everrett, WA.

This agreement does not cover animated programs. The Basic Cable Animation and Television Animation contracts were ratified August 18 without the need for a referendum. The Motion Picture and Televisions contracts and the Commercials contract were ratified by members in June and May, respectively.