SAG Makes Last-Minute Call for Unity

With 14 days left before their contract expires with Hollywood Studios, the national negotiating committee for the Screen Actors' Guild is pushing a message of unity with AFTRA, Reuters reports.



The message is an attempt to repair the rift between SAG and the smaller AFTRA, which signed its own primetime TV deal recently. It outlines the priorities in the bargaining of SAG, including pay raises for middle-aged actors and more DVD residuals. The message comes one day after both the New York and Chicago committies rejected SAG's campaign against the AFTRA contract. Negotiations between SAG and the studios resumed Monday morning.

AFTRA has started a "Vote Yes" campaign for its own members for the deal reached May 28. The union expects to have the results of the membership vote by July 7.

"We are united and committed to working together in achieving the best possible contract for the benefit of all actors," the committee stated. "We pledge to stand together, united, not allowing ourselves to be distracted from our crucial and singular mission by anyone. No matter what the distraction or from where it may come, this committee will continue to stand firm to achieve the best contract possible."