SAG-AMPTP MEDIATION FAILS

Screen Actors Guild – AMPTP Mediation Fails

SAG Seeks Strike Authorization

Los Angeles (Nov. 22, 2008) -- Screen Actors Guild today issued the following statement in response to the failure of federal mediation:

“Our leadership was optimistic that federal mediation would help to move our negotiations forward, but despite the Guild’s extraordinary efforts to reach agreement, the mediation was adjourned shortly before 1:00 a.m. today.

Management continues to insist on terms we cannot responsibly accept on behalf of our members.  As previously authorized by the National Board of Directors, we will now launch a full-scale education campaign in support of a strike authorization referendum.  We will further inform our members about the core, critical issues unique to actors that remain in dispute.

We have already made difficult decisions and sacrifices in an attempt to reach agreement. Now it’s time for SAG members to stand united and empower the national negotiating committee to bargain with the strength of a possible work stoppage behind them.

We remain committed to avoiding a strike but now more than ever we cannot allow our employers to experiment with our careers. The WGA has already learned that the new media terms they agreed to with the AMPTP are not being honored. We cannot allow our employers to undermine the futures of our members and their families.”

No timeline has been set for the mailing or return of the strike authorization ballots.

 

CONTACT: PAMELA GREENWALT, SAG

323-440-2892