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Here’s what the Screen Actors Guild leadership posted on its website without providing any further explanation than what you see below. And Backstage is reporting that more detrimental changes to SAG’s health plan are on the way. The reason is because there’s less SAG work after the big actors union under its new leadership allowed AFTRA to take away virtually all of SAG’s TV pilots this season according to a prearranged deal with the networks and studios (AFTRA Tops SAG In Primetime Next Season):
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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Sadly, the minumum for WGA members is about $4,000 more.
Wow. Hollywood is fast becoming a world of “feast or famine.” Some of us have had it hard from birth while for others it will be a brutal adjustment. Oh well.
Wait, that little bit of framing at the end is utterly untrue. To be fair, the grab by AFTRA (which is true to their own interests) happened under the previous leadership, not the ‘new’ leadership. Alan Rosenberg antagonized AFTRA who then negotiated a separate agreement. However one may view either faction of the SAG political conflict, this is a fact that seems to be blurred and smeared by the above framing.
And this sort of escalation of minimums and dropping benefits will continue so long as there are two unions for on camera work. Who’s to say which aegis an actor will work under and how they will total at the end of the year? One union for all performers. period. Why should actors have a hand tied behind their back?
The pilot migration ain’t the problem. Do you read the news?
Looks like SAG’s politicians have a lot in common with Washington’s politicians.
Welcome to life under Obamacare.
Nikki
On Sagwatch.net, that pro-merger, anti-SAG, anonymously run (by David Browde) propaganda site, the reason you cite for the loss of all TV pilots to AFTRA, essentially all TV now, to AFTRA, is, apparently, dead wrong.
Apparently, all of TV was given to AFTRA by the AMPTP, during the current moderate-SAG government’s two year tenure, because of Alan Rosenberg.
Alan is at fault, says both Sagwatch, and moderate-SAG. His administration, which ended two years ago, is to blame, not Ken Howard, Amy Aquino or, our attack-dog of a National Executive Director, David White, who ran a company that manipulated unions to help management before Ken Howard (with Richard Masur’s hand up his ass) hired White as SAG’s NED.
40% of SAG’s P&H contributions come from TV. Now, SAG has lost all TV (essentially all) to AFTRA, and it’s pension plan is in deep shit, a formerly strong, vibrant enormously successful plan, that was the envy of AFTRA, who’s plan sucked, and sucks, still.
AS a long-time SAG member who EARNED a great pension, which in now under severe threat, and would really LOVE to continue to qualify for health care, as I’ve done every year for 25 years, for myself and my family, all now fucked, due to the complete abdication of the current moderate government of SAG’s fiduciary responsibilities to the SAG membership they supposedly represent, this really pisses me off. I THINK I’m not the only one.
The amazing thing that I actually believe is going to eventually drive yet another stake through the heart of the merger-zombies arguments and agenda, is the fact that digital is not “shared jurisdiction” as they: moderate-SAG, AFTRA and the AMPTP, keep saying.
It is like old Soviet propaganda. Keep sayin it till it’s real.
Merger-zombies make fun of the date of the last precedent – the 1951 ruling that established the following:
“The term “motion pictures,” as used herein and in all prior Agreements between the parties, means and includes, and has always meant and included, motion pictures whether made on or by film, tape or otherwise, and whether produced by means of motion picture cameras, electronic cameras or devices, tape devices or any combination of the foregoing or any other means, methods or devices now used or WHICH MAY HEREAFTER BE ADOPTED.” (that would be digital, folks)
Am I missing something? Is that unclear in any way? Is the U.S. Constitution laughable and not worth adhering to because it was written in the 1780′s?
So, why don’t we compromise? The current government of SAG, that favors merger with AFTRA, should go and file a Unit Clarification Claim with the NLRB, the Federal body that interprets the NLRA, the National Labor Relations Act, aka “the law” in terms of Federal Labor Law.
You know, the people who wrote the ruling printed above, WAY BACK – HA! – IN 1951!!!!!!!
If merger is the great idea the merger-zombies say it is – even though it has failed 16 times in the history of SAG, tabled 14 times after being introduced into SAG government business, and two failed votes of SAG and AFTRA – then, of course, the current government of SAG that has allowed the theft of SAG’s entire TV jurisdiction by AFTRA, without a single word of protest, will have no problem making sure digital IS “shared jurisdiction,” by filing a claim and checking with the NLRB.
Right? Wise? Common sense before we proceed?
How can any merger advocate object to checking to see if it’s kosher, as far, as, you know, Federal Labor Law is concerned?
Otherwise, you run the risk that, in a year, or three, or five AFTER merger into a “New Union for a New World,” when actors find out – “Like, I was, like, SO naive, like TOTALLY – it’s almost IMPOSSIBLE to make a middle class living as an actor now in this new union, and we sign whatever contracts the AMPTP puts in front of us, like – OMG!!!”
And, THEN, actors realize they didn’t understand that, while it IS about two sets of dues, initiation fees and P&H splits in contributions, it’s REALLY about cutting costs on the instructions of multi-billion dollar corporations that are cutting through fat now into bone for the middle-class actor, and collusion between the AMPTP, AFTRA and moderate-SAG (our current government) to create a union that is producer-friendly and never threatens to strike or strikes.
And a “union” that never strikes? Is not, technically speaking, a union.
Because if we don’t check with the NLRB first? Well, THEN, it will be too late, see?
So, actors approaching this “strength in numbers?” propaganda being a slam-dunk?
Would you consider asking if the NLRB AGREES that “digital is shared jurisdiction” first?
Because that’s the foundation of EVERYTHING regarding merger right now.
And, the simple fact, according to existing precedent, you know, THE LAW, is digital is NOT shared jurisdiction.
Let’s ask an independent arbiter first before we make a really, really bad mistake, that smarter, cooler heads in SAG, have thus far avoided, for over 60 years, shall we?
Isn’t that wise? What do merger-zombies have to fear from asking the NLRB to issue a new ruling, if their claims are sound?
Then, we can ALL abide by that ruling. O.K.?
Some nerve, trying to blame the P&H increases on UFS!
Is Iraq “Obama’s War?”
UFS has been effectively dealing with the mess MF left SAG in.
SAG losing TV pilots can be laid directly at the feet of Doug “Attack AFTRA” Allen.
Merger was the solution to split jurisdiction in 2003, and is once again.
Let’s not blow it with inaccurate fantasies of blame.
This is a wake up call for SAG members who think how they vote in this current election does not matter.
Unite For Strength is in cahoots with AFTRA and Producers to take benefits and residuals away from middle class actors.
Why? Because UFS was started by series regulars like Sally Field and Kate Walsh who get paid top dollar UP FRONT. Great for them, but they are not sympathetic with what a SAG member working scale rates makes for the day or makes down the road with residuals. Stars get their money up front with 6 and 7 figure paydays per episode. So they want to keep producers happy and keep the cameras rolling even if it means selling out you–the middle class actor.
VOTE MEMBERSHIP FIRST for a plan to get all actors under one roof INSTEAD of taking on the cost of keeping Sally Field in a mansion and saving AFTRA’s broken health and pension plan and working for the substandard AFTRA scale rates and paltry residual schedule that will force working middle class actors into bankruptcy with NO health insurance.
You may not like it, but this kind of squeezing out of the middle class actor that UFS founders tried and failed with their “Affected Member Voting” trying to take the vote and earning potential away from all SAG actors except those like themselves–RICH actors.
Now UFS has figured out a way to do it by getting into office with your vote under a false “back to work” campaign that results in ALL shows going to their friend AFTRA and you going to the poorhouse with no medical care. Use your in this election vote to save yourself not to impress Sally Field and Matt Damon while they step on your children.
Thanks for the post Nikki. Will SAG members finally get it? The SAG president Hen Coward who mocked his opponent at the membership meeting because he weasled out of debating her, and took the election anyway, is not the rank and file SAG member’s friend. The people currently in power, with their slick mailers, are Uniting for the $trength of someone other than the regular SAG member (and by that I mean they are uniting for the strength of the corporate comglomerates). If you haven’t already sent in your ballot please do, and vote for anyone other than Unite for the Strength of big business. They are using media and celebrity to fool you.
So, unless you think Iraq is “Obama’s War”
I’m not going to launch into how
Doug Allen launched an all-out, unilateral attack on AFTRA
- supported by Alan Rosenberg, David Jolliffe and all of Membership First -
pulling out the long knives that screwed SAG out of a TV/Theatrical contract for a year
and eventually drove all the TV pilots to AFTRA.
MEMBERSHIP FIRST – the “republicans” responsible for our “Iraq.”
Can’t make insurance because of the new higher qualifications?
Be sure and give thanks to Alan Rosenberg and his friend Doug Allen.
UFS and President Ken Howard have not filed jurisdiction violations against aftra. That is treasones. Does Howard work for the AMPTP? UFS has destroyed our contract and its fiscal irresponsibility is bankrupting our Pension and Health. M1st controls the Hollywood board by 1 vote…depending on who shows up. Every Membership First board member is trying to get Howard to file and it hasn’t happened! Why? Because the union busting sellouts at UFS are blocking the vote. Why would they do that? M1st has demanded and independant analyst to vet out the merger insofar it’s the financially prudent action that every potential company in the world who considers merging does. Unite for Strength is also blocking that vote. Whose side is Ken Howard on?Throw all the bums in UFS out of office and lets take our union back! The jurisdictional law must me enforced or our pension and health will go bankrupt! Hello UFS? If you are not on the same page here you should be thrown out of SAG for actions unbecoming a member.
I hope to live so long as to see legions of Hollywood types living in the streets and eating out of dumpsters. Nobody deserves such a fate more.
SAG and AFTRA together have destroyed Hollywood and killed the “working actor”. It was already insanely difficult to make a living as an actor (the top 5% of actors get 90% of the work…so the rest of us fight for the scraps). The same actors are cast over and over. Heaven forbid casting directors and studios and producers open their minds to let in new talent.
But with SAG and the residuals is was possible to maybe survive without a day job if you scrimped and lived really poor. Now that is over. With 99% of all new shows in the last few years going AFTRA that means no residuals. So there is no way to survive as an actor.
Not to mention the fact that half the casts are taken by imported actors from the UK or Australia. If you are an American actor -just forget it. The only “new” actors Hollywood wants to see now have to put on a fake American accent. It is now an impossible career. I don’t know why SAG and AFTRA let this happen.
And why is it that non-Americans can come here and work – yet I cannot go to Vancouver or Toronto and work as actor? Could someone please explain that to me how these people get through that loophole??
Because the Canadian Government subsidizes jobs for their own citizens to lure productions to Canada. That’s why you can’t work there.
Nikki, to blame the current SAG leadership for the fact that AFTRA took a ton of SAG TV work away is like blaming Obama for the recession. The old SAG leadership had us in a no win situation. We were working under and expired contract and had absolutely NO CHANCE of getting a strike authorization (which would take 75% of voting SAG members).
We got there because the old SAG leadership wanted to cut down AFTRA’s power in voting for the contract and as a result alienated AFTRA which lead to AFTRA and SAG negotiating SEPARATELY. And when AFTRA voted for the contract (despite SAGs intense campaign to shoot it down) that SAG did NOT send to it’s membership to vote on, the AMPTP leveraged that to make a ton of shows AFTRA.
So this has nothing to do with Ken Howard and the current elected leadership. And to say otherwise is just like the GOP blaming Obama for the fact the we are in a recession. It’s plain irresponsible.
It was the current leadership who destroyed SAG, Unite for Weakness. Vote them all out! If SAG propaganda would have recommended a strike authorization overwhelmingly all the SAG sheeple would have followed. Remember we are lucky if 30% of the membership vote. But we were publically divided by UFS which was tactically stupid. Rosenberg has balls, integrity and got smeared in the press by the UFS board during the written accent fiasco. UFS has not united anything but trips to the unemployment office. By their own hand they will destroy what our forefathers fought for…and themselves.
I’d love to hear more about this “prearranged deal with the networks and studios.” It sounds like a major scandal in the works. Got any proof?
I believe this has to do with the loss of ALL TV to AFTRA by the current merger-happy government of SAG.
40% of SAG’s P&H contributions come (came) from TV. P&H program? Meet disaster.
On who’s watch, and without a single word of protest?
Ken Howard, Amy Aquino and David White.
Why?
To facilitate merger with AFTRA (“well, now we HAVE to merge, half our P&H goes to one, half to the other union”)
Only problem?
“Digital” is NOT shared jurisdiction.
Not according to the last precedent at the NLRB:
The term “motion pictures,” as used herein and in all prior Agreements between the parties, means and includes, and has always meant and included, motion pictures whether made on or by film, tape or otherwise, and whether produced by means of motion picture cameras, electronic cameras or devices, tape devices or any combination of the foregoing or any other means, methods or devices now used or WHICH MAY HEREAFTER BE ADOPTED.” (that would be digital)
Why won’t Ken Howard, Amy Aquino and David White of SAG ask an impartial arbiter (the NLRB) for a NEW ruling based on existing law?
Is anybody else noticing that SAG is in terrible shape since UFS took over, and that UFS continues to blame everything on the previous administration, including the loss off TV to AFTRA? The loss of TV happened on UFS’s watch, not the previous administration, and, I never heard a single word of protest from our current SAG government. In their lust to leapfrog all else to get to merger with AFTRA, they are allowing SAG to be looted by AFTRA. Shameful. I thought TV belonged to SAG, except for “television performed in a live manner” which belongs to AFTRA. Isn’t that what the NLRB says? Shouldn’t the current government of SAG ask them for a new ruling before we merge with AFTRA? Well, you would think so, but the current government of SAG understands a new ruling would return all this TV to SAG and push AFTRA back to its former jurisdiction: “live TV.” Problem solved. Not good for those favoring merger with AFTRA.
That’s your eligibility. You will have to pay taxes too, based upon the value of your health care under the Obamacare plan. That will probably push more everyday actors in the middle outside the plan. Further requiring levels to be raised.
seeing this happen wonder how long before Sag finaly says okay strike and try and make one stick for good. for after all given how the studios manage every time to get a deal where they seem to keep their profits and the guilds get screwed. one would think they would at least let the hard workers in hollywood have some basic things like health insurance in tact. instead of this happening.
Why don’t those money grubbing liberal stars cough up some cash to help the little people ? What about john cusack ? He probably has alot bucks, we wants satanic death for fox employees, but won’t even help out his own tribe ?
Americans should pay for their own health care, they would then stop eating Twinkies.
Anybody who thinks either union can tell a studio which contract to use is smoking crack. It’s about the bottom line and who has the cheaper contract at the time. AFTRA was the beneficiary of SAG negotiator, Doug Allen’s inability to close the deal for months on end. The blame for the studio’s flight from SAG falls squarely on his and Alan Rosenberg’s shoulders.
AFTRA took/stole/invaded nothing. They acted like any union working for the benefit of its members. To do otherwise would have been a breach of their fiduciary responsibility.
If you’re an actor and you’re working and feeding money now into both AFTRA medical and SAG medical with no chance making the minimum in either, then you can thank the Al(l)a/e)n’s for that.
Merger will be messy and there may be gains and losses in the contract consolidations, but you won’t be splitting your benefit contributions, paying two dues, going through two elections every year and most importantly you won’t ever have to go through the devastating effects of two unions racing to the bottom.
Facts matter. “You are entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts.” (Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan)
Fact: SAG had 13 seats in negotiating. AFTRA had 13 seats in negotiating (Under Phase 1, in use since 1980).
Fact: EVERT TIME SAG tried to get a raise in the DVD rate over the years (which has resulted in a 4.5 BILLION dollar loss to SAG, to date) ALL AFTRA’s 13 seats, PLUS a number of moderates, or, the newest name “UFS” – of SAG, would vote “no.”
FACT: THAT has resulted in NO CHANGE IN THE DVD RATE FOR 26 YEARS. (AFTRA and some moderate SAG always vote no because AFTRA didn’t really benefit from increased DVD rates – not NEARLY to the extent SAG would have, so, all 13 AFTRA seats NEVER wanted to force the issue, and if you don’t force the issue with producers? You don’t get upgrades. EVER).
Fact: THIS IS WHY SAG under Rosenberg and Allen challenged the 13/13 arrangement, because Alan Rosenberg was ELECTED TWICE on getting “tough with the DVD residual rate.” They understood they needed to question AFTRA’s equal say even though AFTRA did ONLY 5% OF THE WORK. You read right. 5%. So, Rosenberg said “if we don’t make this more proportional in terms of jurisdiction (SAG, 95%, AFTRA, 5%) SAG will NEVER get a raise in the DVD rate.”
THAT was considered “an attack” on AFTRA.
Fact: Susan Flannery, long-time actress on the soap “The Bold and the Beautiful” came to Rosenberg and Allen, being a SAG member, and laid out for them, chapter and verse, why the cast of “The Bold and the Beautiful” HATED AFTRA. HORRIBLE representation, collection of residuals – YOU NAME IT. Rosenberg and Allen, listened patiently, then told Ms. Flannery, “We sympathize, but you have to return to AFTRA with your complaints.” THAT was considered “raiding The Bold and the Beautiful” even though Ms. Flannery, herself, said, in writing “it was NOT.”
Fact: The events coming lightening speed at Rosenberg and Allen included the FIRST TV/Theatrical contract with a CRUCIAL new media precedent that was going to LOCK IN SAG ON NEW MEDIA. The home video/DVD rate has not changed in 26 YEARS, despite the producers saying EXACTLY what they have said about new media. The Cable deal has not changed substantively in 24 years despite the producers saying THE EXACT SAME THING they said in 2008 about new media.
“Make this HORRIBLE DEAL of fixed rates and absurd free windows in new media, give us ‘complete flexibility to experiment’ and when we establish a business model and profit stream, we will make this right.”
The EXACT THING THEY SAID OF DVD and CABLE. “TRUST US.”
So, Allen and Rosenberg said -”fool me once, shame on YOU, fool me twice, shame on ME, fool me THREE TIMES? – I must be a FUCKING MORON.”
They told the AMPTP – “NO.”
Fact: Rosenberg and Allen KNEW this was a “line in the sand” and SAG MUST get a participatory deal UP FRONT in new media. A small percentage of distributors gross, so, “if the producers make money, SAG actors make money, if the producers take a loss or break even in new media ‘experimentation,’ actors will get small minimums and NO RESIDUALS.”
That is a “partnership” that allows SAG to grow WITH the producers, no matter when or how they “monetize” the internet.
Fact: Rosenberg and Allen HAD the support of the SAG national board to get a strike authorization. Richard Masur – HEAD OF THE MODERATE faction of SAG (and former president of SAG, who said, on his watch, and I quote – “SAG will NEVER STRIKE during my presidency!” Imagine that?!) – Masur WROTE THE Strike Authorization! Masur ALSO wrote these two “CORE PRINCIPALS” of SAG: “ALL actors work will be fairly compensated for re-use (residuals)” and “SAG will allow NO non-union work in ANY SAG contract.”
Now? We have BOTH.
Fact: The moderates in SAG, long proponents of merger with AFTRA – and AFTRA itself, both recognized a political opportunity.
AFTRA LEFT PHASE 1 bargaining with SAG, for the first time in 27 years, and SIGNED THE TERRIBLE OFFER WITH THE AMPTP BY THEMSELVES, to set themselves up as an alternative to SAG, because they knew SAG wouldn’t sign the terrible contract, and instead of standing by SAG, as they had done in Phase 1 bargaining for 27 years, they BETRAYED SAG and signed the deal.
THEN, “Moderate-SAG,” recognized a political opportunity and decided to STALL Rosenberg and Allen, so they could NOT get the strike authorization they needed to confront the AMPTP, and had been assured by the 97% vote of the SAG national board they would support just weeks before.
Fact: That refusal to be extorted into signing arguably the WORST contract in the history of SAG, created the STALL, that the moderates in SAG and the newly emergent UFS blamed on Rosenberg and Allen, when IN FACT, UFS was causing it themselves by not SUPPORTING Rosenberg and Allen AS THEY SAID THEY WOULD in the national board vote.
Fact: THAT is why the contract then passed by 78%, because the membership was infuriated by the year-long-stall that was blamed on Rosenberg and Allen, but had been CAUSED by the betrayal of AFTRA and the undermining of moderate SAG.
Fact: The ENTIRE TV space has NOW been awarded to AFTRA by the AMPTP, depriving SAG of 40% of SAG’s normal P&H contributions. The current government of SAG: Ken Howard, Amy Aquino and David White, did NOT SAY ONE WORD IN PROTEST when
AFTRA STOLE SAG’S TV JURISDICTION. THEY DID NOT – AND WILL NOT ASK FOR A NEW RULING FROM THE NLRB.
The NLRB, in 1951, said DEFINITIVELY, that “method of capture” (film, video, now – DIGITAL) was NOT THE DECIDING FACTOR in SAG-AFTRA jurisdiction and AFTRA only had “live TV” as its sole jurisdiction, BY FEDERAL LAW.
SAG? Had EVERYTHING ELSE. THEN, AND NOW, IF FEDERAL LAW IS FOLLOWED.
Fact: IF THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT OF SAG would file a “Unit Clarification Petition” with the NLRB, that body would be forced to refer to precedent, SAG would be returned ALL TV LOST to AFTRA, SAG would return to 95-97% dominance in jurisdiction – and this would ALL BE OVER.
THOSE ARE THE FACTS FOLKS – AND THAT’S WHY YOUR SAG P&H PROGRAM IS GOING DOWN THE SHITTER.
YOU WANT SAG BACK? OR, DO YOU WANT SAG DESTROYED AND GONE IF WE MERGE WITH AFTRA?
SAG, STRONG AND UNCHALLENGED BY AFTRA? VOTE MEMBERSHIP FIRST. That’s STEP 1!
Anyone else tired of being screamed at by Matt “Mad Dog” Mulhern (“Truth to Power” above)?
Maybe it would be different if he weren’t straining so hard to revise history.
Even then – give it a rest, loser.
“Vilsey Tattle” is Tom Ligon, a deranged old man, who has issued death threats, shouts incoherently into the mic at every government meeting he attends (he attends them all – he has nothing else to do. When confronted with facts, he tends to fall apart, emotionally and intellectually. One wonders what drives him. He is retired and never worked much as an actor, but did a lot of soap work in NY. He hates, loathes, Hollywood, out of jealousy and bitterness over never really getting anywhere as an actor, so that puts him at permanent odds with SAG. He loves AFTRA, but really has no idea why merger with AFTRA would benefit the SAG middle-class actor, which it won’t.
Matt Mulhern is a passionate advocate of the middle-class SAG actor, and understands this is all a power play by the AMPTP and enabled by AFTRA and moderate-SAG, to cut costs, at the expense of the SAG middle-class actor. He will be proven right. Unfortunately.
Oh, and, Tom Ligon is a massive asshole.