U.S. Actors Union May Call Strike Authorization Vote

The board of SAG-AFTRA says it will seek a strike authorization vote from its members unless a new three-year deal can be reached with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) by June 30.

SAG-AFTRA represents the interests of 160,000 members. In negotiating a new deal with AMPTP covering television, film and new media, the union says it has presented “reasonable proposals to address the critical concerns facing our members and that are integral to making a living in this industry. The AMPTP has responded with outrageous rollbacks that cut to the core of our basic terms and conditions. Despite our efforts, the AMPTP has failed to make sufficient progress on our most critical issues. The status quo is simply unacceptable and our members, standing together, will not give in to management’s onerous demands nor back down on our critical proposals.”

The board of SAG-AFTRA says a strike authorization vote will be sent out to members if a new deal isn’t reached by June 30. In April, the Writers Guild of America voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike but eventually came to a new deal with the AMPTP, averting a shutdown in production. The work stoppage initiated by the WGA from November 2007 to February 2008 cost the Los Angeles economy about $2.5 billion.