October 23, 2008 by WW.

Which union exec blew a gasket when someone posted details on this site about the bonding requirement for SAG and AFTRA contained in the new non-disparagement agreement? That’s the deal the Allens negotiated with AFTRA’s top duo under the guidance of the AFL-CIO, allowing joint negotiations of the Commrecials Contract, using the rules of Phase 1.

And once you’ve figured out who the hot tempered exec is, what do you think was the demand that followed? 

Posted in Commercials Contract, SAG Politics, SAG-AFTRA | Print | 32 Comments »

October 23, 2008 by WW.

Oh, wait…that’s someone else’s line.Anyway, the AMPTP has now made it official. Mediator in. And the producers will meet with the SAG committee.

Here’s  the Hollywood Reporter’s take. And Variety’s.

But what you don’t see in all the happy news is any suggestion that the mediator will make any difference. In fact, the deal on the table is exactly the same as the one that was on the table July 16, more than three months ago, the last time they met.  It’s the “last, best and final” offer, the offer the Membership First led committee has already said it will not even send out to the membership, because it violates “core values.”

Here’s  Variety’s line:  ”The AMPTP left little doubt that it’s not going to budge from its final offer, made June 30 as SAG’s feature-primetime contract expired.”

In a comment posted on a previous blog here, Membership First supporter Terrence Beasor, who didn’t run for re-election to the Board, predicts a failure of the mediation:

“Mediation is not binding and is likely to leave the actors in the same position as the writers before they went on strike. The actors will try, Nick Counter will continue his intransigence. The Negotiating Committee will say, “See we tried!” and then send out the Strike authorization with no further consultation with the National Board.”    

 We think Beasor has it right, as far as he goes. But we’re still unconvinced that the membership will vote to authorize a strike in this economic environment, even after another of those Membership First-driven “educational” campaigns.

UPDATE: No date has been set for talks with both sides present - but the AMPTP will reportedly be meeting with the mediator Thursday.

Posted in Exhibit A - TV Theatrical | Print | 14 Comments »

October 23, 2008 by admin.

We’re told the AMPTP will shortly announce officially what we told you a few days ago, that the producers will agree to meet with the federal mediator SAG requested to deal with the stalled TV-Theatrical negotiations.

There are two reasons the announcement has been delayed. One, many key AMPTP execs have been back east, and aren’t due home until tomorrow. Two, they’ve been trying to restrain their laughing.

It seems that something the Allens haven’t mentioned is that when the AMPTP suggested mediation, many months ago, the Allens were dead set against it. They flatly refused.

But now it’s their idea…and that makes all the difference, doesn’t it!

Anyway, everyone’s got their fig leaf now. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the economy has hit the skids, the producers are laying off, not building, and the environment for negotiating improvements has gone from so-so to bad to worse. So we’re not expecting lots of give when the mediator comes calling.

But, at least there’s a chance…

Posted in Exhibit A - TV Theatrical | Print | 8 Comments »