2008 |
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02-09: NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS REAFFIRMS JOINT BARGAINING WITH AFTRA |
LOS ANGELES, (February 9, 2008) -- Screen Actors Guild National Board of Directors today suspended its scheduled referendum on Phase I. Voting 86.10% to 13.90%, the board authorized National Executive Director Doug Allen to postpone further implementation of the Phase I referendum pending the outcome of talks with AFTRA.
Under today's referendum resolution, any agreement that arises from the talks must specifically provide for the inclusion in Phase I of all contracts involving actors, that such contracts be arrived at from a common set of proposals and by mutual agreement, and that neither union can offer contracts to signatory employers with reduction in terms or conditions without the approval of the other union.
SAG’s board also passed a resolution to rescind block voting with respect to Phase I contracts. In rescinding the bloc voting motion, the board recognized that the principle of bloc voting, while appropriate and consistent with Phase I, was an impediment to reaching agreement with AFTRA.
“We are confident that these actions will pave the way for Screen Actors Guild and AFTRA to jointly negotiate improvements for all actors working under SAG and AFTRA contracts,” said Screen Actors Guild President Alan Rosenberg.
“Screen Actors Guild’s objective remains to negotiate the best wages and working conditions for all actors. We look forward to speaking with a unified voice when we face our employers across the table,” Rosenberg added.
“Despite the fact that AFTRA announced its intention to enter early negotiations on Primetime television provisions on its own, they have recently signaled that they are ready, willing and able to work together with Screen Actors Guild in the best interests of actors,” said SAG National Executive Director Doug Allen.