Aftra Ratifies Deal; SAG To Follow?

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

The New York Sun

The labor drama gripping Hollywood is entering its final act after one actors group said its members ratified a new deal and the other prepared to turn down the major studios’ final offer.

The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists announced that its members had ratified a three-year prime-time TV contract with studios, with 62% of voting members supporting it, after fierce opposition from the larger Screen Actors Guild. The deal goes into effect retroactive to July 1.

SAG, which said approval of the deal would undermine its own talks, responded by saying its bargaining was not yet done.

“We will continue to address the issues of importance to actors that AFTRA left on the table,” the SAG president, Alan Rosenberg, said in a statement.

That left Hollywood in limbo about whether there would be a replay of the 100-day writers’ strike that ended in February. SAG, with 120,000 members, represents the vast majority of actors in prime-time TV and movies, and still could throw the industry into turmoil. Aftra has 70,000 members, including actors, singers, announcers, and journalists. SAG and Aftra share 44,000 dual members.

Talks between SAG and the producers have largely stopped since the expiration of the actors’ contract on June 30, but the guild has not called for a strike authorization vote. The alliance, representing major studios under companies such as Viacom Inc. and the Walt Disney Co., is set to meet with SAG today to discuss the producers’ final offer.


The New York Sun

© 2024 The New York Sun Company, LLC. All rights reserved.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The material on this site is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used.

The New York Sun

Sign in or  Create a free account

or
By continuing you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use