SAG Chief Dismisses Strike Rumors

LOS ANGELES, June 30: Alan
Rosenberg, the president of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), has asserted that
“no steps” have been taken to authorize a strike, with talks for a new contract
continuing with Hollywood producers.

SAG’s contract is due to
expire today. The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA)
has tentatively agreed to a new contract, with the results of the member voting
due next week. SAG has been lobbying AFTRA members to reject the deal.

In a statement, Rosenberg
said: “We have taken no steps to initiate a strike authorization vote by the
members of Screen Actors Guild. Any talk about a strike or a management lockout
at this point is simply a distraction. The Screen Actors Guild national
negotiating committee is coming to the bargaining table every day in good faith
to negotiate a fair contract for actors.”

The SAG statement notes
that negotiations will continue today. “We will be here for as many hours as it
takes to address the outstanding issues unique to actors that were NOT
ADDRESSED in the pending AFTRA deal.”

—By Mansha Daswani