October 31, 2008 by admin.

According to the SAG website, the TV-Theatrical negotiating committee will meet with mediator Juan Carlos Gonzalez on November 5 - just under a week after Gonzalez met with the AMPTP. 

The notice doesn’t say any more than that.

 Variety suggests it’s a step towards the possible resumption of the stalled negotiations, but notes that no date for direct talks has been set.

Posted in Exhibit A - TV Theatrical | Print | 12 Comments »

October 30, 2008 by WW.

Here’s the schedule for Commericals Contract W&W Sessions in Los Angeles and New York.

Please join your fellow members to discuss issues you’d like to see addressed in the upcoming Commercials Contracts negotiations. Participation will be limited only by fire rules. Come early and bring your membership card.

LOS ANGELES
Where: Cagney Boardroom
5757 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90036

When: Thursday, Nov. 6
6:30–9 p.m.
Topic: On-camera Performers

When: Tuesday, Nov. 11
6:30–9 p.m.
Topic: Voice Over Actors, Radio Announcers, and Singers

When: Thursday, Nov. 13
6:30–9 p.m.
Topic: Background Actors

NEW YORK
When: Wednesday, Nov. 5
12–2 p.m.
Topic: Voice Over Actors, Radio Announcers, and Singers

Where: Leon Janney Boardroom
360 Madison Ave.
(14th Floor)

When: Wednesday, Nov. 12
12–2 p.m.
Topic: On-camera Performers (Including Background Actors)

Where: AFTRA Boardroom
260 Madison Ave.
(7th Floor)

If you cannot attend, make sure your voice is heard. You may submit proposal recommendations by email at commercialswandw@aftra.com or commercialswandw@sag.org. The Joint Wages and Working Conditions Committee will review all recommendations.

Posted in Commercials Contract | Print | No Comments »

October 30, 2008 by WW.

The AMPTP met with mediator Juan Carlos Gonzalez today, and issued a brief, non committal statement:

The AMPTP met this afternoon with federal mediator Juan Carlos Gonzalez. During the meeting AMPTP presented details of the AMPTP’s Final Offer to SAG, along with background information on the major labor agreements that AMPTP has reached this year with WGA, DGA and AFTRA, which served as the basis for our Final Offer to SAG. The federal mediator indicated that he will advise the parties as to the next step in the process.  

The good news is that the producers apparently didn’t say “take it or leave it” - there’s a “next step in the process.” What we hear is that there are some AMPTP members who are less hard line than others, and that given the new leadership at SAG, there could even be a play to throw the union a bone.

The problem with all that is that the rest of the AMPTP remains totally over the Allens and Membership First, not interested in doing anything but watch them twist slowly in the wind, even if it means the rest of the union twists there with them. Then there’s the economy.

Stand by…

Update: Here’s Variety’s take.

McNary offers one little tidbit, pretty much consistent with what we’re hearing:

“Sources close to the studios said there are two key points for the congloms:

• The AMPTP’s willing to continue with the mediation process but won’t change the new-media framework it’s used for earlier deals with the DGA, WGA and AFTRA.

• Economic conditions have worsened in the four months since SAG received the final offer.

 ” 

Posted in Exhibit A - TV Theatrical | Print | No Comments »

October 30, 2008 by Editor.

Even if you’re on another planet (and, yes, we have our suspicions about some of you) you probably have noticed there’s an election this coming Tuesday. In an election season, some unions sometimes take political positions - but SAG and AFTRA don’t.

Which leads us to the latest Membership First folly. Egged on by the internet troll whose antics led us to start this blog, ousted SAG Membership First director Steven Barr, who  holds an AFTRA board slot, is out front railing against the Chicago SAG/AFTRA office for its publication of the AFL-CIO’s endorsement list in the current issue of the Chicago local newsletter, “Executive Edition.”

The publication went out under this heading,

“AFTRA does not endorse any political candidates or parties. In an effort to elect officials who are dedicated to protecting workers’ rights, the Illinois AFL-CIO endorses the following candidates. This information from the AFL-CIO is offered as a tool to give AFTRA members a means of making their own judgments about the candidates. The union does not have a position on these candidates.”

That apparently wasn’t enough for Barr or his allies. Barr called it “wilfull disobedience of a crystal clear SAG policy” and added,

From this date forward S.A.G should have full veto power of EVERY word printed in any joint AFTRA/S.A.G magazine, newsletter or website, and contracts for Joint offices should be re negotiated so that if AFTRA EVER does this again, S.A.G can withhold payments to joint offices for this exact transgression.

Was he done? No. “Hey if AFTRA wants to anger their high profile members — that’s their business,” he wrote. “At S.A.G we don’t do that.”

Barr insisted, “When the Chicago AFTRA/SAG Office published the names of individual candidates they knew they were violating a longstanding S.A.G policy.” Barr says it’s “another reason why a {SAG/AFTRA} merger may not be so wonderful an idea for many in Hollywood.”  His sidekick argues that it shows that SAG and AFTRA shouldn’t share offices.

Just one problem - or maybe three or four. It turns out that at SAG, we do do that. More importantly, no less than Doug Allen, Pamm Fair and Pam Greenwalt each reviewed the “Executive Edition” article prior to publication, and each of them approved it. In advance.

And right after that, SAG took a position against Prop 8 (the California anti gay marriage proposition,) with First V.P. Anne-Marie Johnson quoted in the press release on the SAG website.

So, we’re not quite clear. Is some politics OK, but not all? Is Doug Allen no longer in charge of SAG? Or is this just the usual nonsense from our favorite gang, hating anything they’ve decided wasn’t their idea?

Posted in SAG-AFTRA | Print | 4 Comments »

October 30, 2008 by WW.

The new SAG Board has launched a long overdue attempt to actually send residual payments out to people, rather than the longstanding practice of simply letting the money sit in union accounts. One of the more ridiculous claims made under Membership First was that the union couldn’t find people like Mick Jagger, Michael Dukakis and Nancy Reagan, all of whom have money waiting for them at SAG.The union’s refusal to deal with the problem, which involves tens of millions of dollars, led to a lawsuit which SAG is still trying to settle. It’s not clear if the new campaign is part of an attempt to settle the case. Variety has a story on the campaign this morning.

SAG’s launching a “Get Your Money” campaign, aimed at distributing some of the more than $25 million in “unclaimed residuals” it hasn’t given to more than 66,000 people — including heirs of John F. Kennedy, Clark Gable, Alan Ladd, Freddie Prinze and Redd Foxx along with such notables as Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Michael Dukakis and Nancy Reagan.In notices included in the current SAG Actor and Call Sheet publications, the guild said it’s facing a “dilemma” in getting the funds distributed because it doesn’t have the correct addresses in most cases.”Some residuals checks belong to nonmembers or one-time actors, many of whom aren’t even aware that they have residuals coming to them,” the ad said. “In an effort to reduce this surplus, the finance committee is embarking on a marketing campaign to get the word out to possible residuals recipients.”

Posted in SAG Politics, Media Business | Print | 3 Comments »

October 29, 2008 by Editor.

As we told you, the AMPTP has agreed to meet with the federal mediator the Allens asked to step into the stalled TV-Theatrical negotiations. The Allens have met with Gonzales already. The AMPTP meets with him tomorrow. With apologies to David Letterman, here’s our list of the Top 10 things we expect Nick Counter to say to Gonzalez:#10. Loved your work on the WGA negotiations.#9. The last best and final offer is on the table.#8. No, I won’t change the DVD residuals formula.#7. Sure, I’ll be glad to give SAG less work. #6. No, I won’t give them more money for new media.#5. They can take core principles and …#4. I love the Allens. Really! They’re great guys.#3.  You better call Atlanta to find out what’s really happening in SAG.#2. I could have had a V8! #1. I could change that last best and final offer…and make it worse. 

Posted in SAG Politics, Exhibit A - TV Theatrical | Print | No Comments »

October 29, 2008 by Editor.

If you’ve wandered through the SAG website lately, you’ve probably noticed the disappearance of all those pictures of the Allens, looking suitably angry at rallies and enjoying an on-field frolic at Dodger Stadium. In the run up to the election, the pictures were practically inescapable.Now that the election is over, and Membership First lost, sure, you can still find the Allens fulminating on SAG-TV, but that’s about it. The front page pictures? Gone.Perhaps it’s just a coincidence. Maybe all those pictures were taken down to protect them from all the wear and tear on the front page. (We’ll see who the serious SAGWatch trivia buffs are when we hear who picked up on that reference.) But more likely, it’s one more subtle, but distinct sign of the changes underway at SAG, now that the union is under new leadership. It takes more than one election cycle to complete the job, but the journey begins with a single step.

Posted in SAG Politics | Print | 4 Comments »

October 28, 2008 by admin.

Subject: California Guild Members: Joint SAG/AFTRA Commercials Contracts Wages and Working Conditions Committee Meetings to be held in Los Angeles

Joint SAG/AFTRA Commercials Contracts Wages and Working Conditions
 Committee Meetings to be held in Los Angeles

Joint Screen Actors Guild/American Federation of Television and Radio Artists Wages & Working Conditions meetings have been scheduled in preparation for negotiation of the Commercials Contracts that were extended from October 31, 2008 to March 31, 2009. All members who work the Commercials Contracts are invited to attend and participate. All W&W Committee meetings are open to all paid-up members of both Unions; participation is limited only by fire department regulations.
 
If you are not located in L.A. but will be visiting from out of town, please feel free to attend. Come early and bring your membership card.
 
Attention members who are actively producing:
SAG members who are actively producing cannot attend the W&W Committee Meetings due to conflict of interest. However, you are welcome to attend the evening W&W caucuses. Please check the Contracts section of www.sag.org <www.sag.org%20> for caucus dates and times.

W&W Committee Meetings Scheduled in Los Angeles:
Cagney Boardroom
5757 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90036
 
November 3    10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
November 5    10 a.m. - 1 p.m.                
November 7    10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
November 10   9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
November 11   10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
November 14   10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
November 17   10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
November 19   10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
November 21   10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
November 24   10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
November 25   10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
December 1     10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
December 2     10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
December 3     10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
December 4     10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
 
If you cannot attend, make sure your voice is heard. You may submit proposal recommendations by email at commercialswandw@sag.org or commercialswandw@aftra.com. The Joint Wages and Working Conditions Committee will review all recommendations.
 
You may also submit your ideas through the on-site suggestion boxes placed in the SAG committee office at 5757 Wilshire Blvd on the 1st floor and at the AFTRA Offices located at 5757 Wilshire Blvd on the 9th floor. Feel free to drop-in your contract-related thoughts and concerns. Please note that the deadline for submissions in the Suggestion Box is Friday December 5, 2008.
Your participation is vital to a contract negotiation responsive to the working members. Thank you for your time.
 
Dates and times subject to change as the process and the committees’ work unfold. Notice will be given of any changes.

SAG and AFTRA MEMBERS–Don’t forget to vote on November 4th. Let your union voices be heard.

SAG urges you to VOTE NO ON PROP 8 and protect the constitutional rights of all Californians.

 
 
 
 
 

—
For address changes, removals, and misdeliveries, please follow the procedures at:
http://www.sag.org/Content/Public/Email_OptOut.htm

Posted in Commercials Contract | Print | No Comments »

October 27, 2008 by WW.

Matching e-mails:

ATTENTION ALL SAG and AFTRA MEMBERS

Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists are pleased to announce the beginning of the Joint Wages & Working Conditions (W&W) process in preparation for negotiation of the Commercials Contracts that were extended from October 31, 2008 to March 31, 2009. It is only through the involvement of members that proposals for this vital negotiation are developed.

There are four ways to make your voice heard:

Joint Commercials Contracts Caucuses - Join your fellow members to discuss what really matters! Open to all paid-up SAG and AFTRA members, the caucuses are free-form sessions where you can express any issue you feel should be addressed in the upcoming negotiations. Input from the caucuses directly effects the proposals formed by the Joint Wages & Working Conditions Committees.

Joint Wages & Working Conditions Committee Meetings - These formal meetings use the information and ideas gathered from the caucuses to create proposals for the 2009 contract negotiations.

Note: Upcoming dates for Caucuses and W&W meetings in Hollywood and New York will be emailed soon. Regional Branch and Local members should contact your local branch staff and visit the SAG or AFTRA websites for local dates and times.

Email Suggestions - Can’t make it to a caucus or committee meeting? You can still play an active part by emailing your ideas to commercialswandw@sag.org or at commercialswandw@aftra.com. All proposal recommendations will be reviewed by the Joint Wages & Working Conditions Committee.

On-site Suggestion Box - Boxes will be placed in the SAG committee office at 5757 Wilshire Blvd (1st Fl.) in L.A. and 360 Madison Ave. (12th FL.) in N.Y and at the AFTRA Offices located at 5757 Wilshire Blvd (9th floor) and 260 Madison Avenue (7th floor) in New York. Feel free to drop-in your contract-related thoughts and concerns. Please note that the last day for suggestions is Friday December 5, 2008.

SAG and AFTRA MEMBERS–Don’t forget to vote on November 4th. Let your union voices be heard.

—-

– 

The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and Screen Actors Guild are pleased to announce the beginning of the Joint Wages & Working Conditions (W&W) process in preparation for negotiation of the Commercials Contracts that were extended from October 31, 2008 to March 31, 2009. It is only through the involvement of members that proposals for this vital negotiation are developed.

There are four ways to make your voice heard:

Joint Commercials Contracts Caucuses - Join your fellow members to discuss what really matters! Open to all paid-up AFTRA and SAG members, the caucuses are free-form sessions where you can express any issue you feel should be addressed in the upcoming negotiations. Input from the caucuses directly effects the proposals formed by the Joint Wages & Working Conditions Committees.

Joint Wages & Working Conditions Committee Meetings - These formal meetings use the information and ideas gathered from the caucuses to create proposals for the 2009 contract negotiations.

Note: Upcoming dates for Caucuses and W&W meetings in Hollywood and New York will be emailed soon. Regional Branch and Local members should contact your local branch staff and visit the AFTRA and SAG websites for local dates and times.

Email Suggestions - Can’t make it to a caucus or committee meeting? You can still play an active part by emailing your ideas to commercialswandw@aftra.com or commercialswandw@sag.org. All proposal recommendations will be reviewed by the Joint Wages & Working Conditions Committee.

On-site Suggestion Box - Boxes will be placed in the AFTRA offices located at 5757 Wilshire Blvd (9th floor) and 260 Madison Avenue (7th floor) in New York, and in the SAG committee office at 5757 Wilshire Blvd (1st Fl.) in L.A. and 360 Madison Ave. (12th FL.) in N.Y. Feel free to drop-in your contract-related thoughts and concerns. Please note that the last day for suggestions is Friday December 5, 2008.

AFTRA AND SAG MEMBERS–Don’t forget to vote on November 4th. Let your union voices be heard.

Posted in Commercials Contract | Print | 10 Comments »

October 27, 2008 by Editor.

On a morning on which the trades each have items describing the Allens’ “hopes” to resume negotiations on TV-Theatrical, we’re scratching our heads over one of the stranger items to pop up on a message board dominated by Membership First - an item about the blog they love to hate - but always read…us.

It all started when someone anonymously posted an item claiming that while our server is in Germany, our site “emanates from Atlanta” - whatever that means. From that astonishing (and, we think, wrong) assumption, without so much as a bit of additional detail, the poster claimed that means that the President of Atlanta’s SAG branch is the Editor of SAGWatch, that is, me. 

As we’ve said repeatedly we have no idea where our server is physically located. We hooked up with 1and1 Internet because the night we were discussing the idea of SAGWatch, someone had a computer magazine with an ad for $1.99 per month hosting, and the provider was 1and1. $1.99 per month seemed like the right price, so we signed up with them online. The decision was that simple.

It turned out that 1and1 is owned by a German company. Who knew? But it’s provided lots of room for conspiracy theorists to engage in fantasy, and that’s something we enjoy in and of itself. They’re very creative in their fantasies, and we take a certain perverse pleasure in watching them get more and more excited about their “discoveries.”

Anyway, we have no idea what “emanates from Atlanta” is supposed to mean, and we’re not going to get drawn into running down a list of the 120,000 members of SAG, denying each until, by elimination, some one is identified. But simply because this one’s so off the wall, and has the usual gang of (pardon me) idiots yapping and foaming at the mouth even more than usual, we thought we’d comment this one time. 

Ridiculous.

Posted in SAG Politics, Miscellaneous Hate Mail and Threats | Print | 17 Comments »