AMPTP and SAG working together to bring a contract to fruition

By Brian Frederick

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 7/3/08 – - “The Screen Actors Guild national negotiating committee met with AMPTP negotiators today to present a series of substantive questions on the employers’ proposed package. Guild negotiators and staff will further analyze and review the AMPTP’s responses over the next several days in order to prepare a response to management’s proposal,” SAG leaders released in a press statement today.

The SAG board made a similar offer to AFTRA’s contract and the AMPTP responded with a counter offer. AFTRA approved a tentative agreement made by the AMPTP before their June 30^th contract expired. SAG has yet to approve a tentative agreement. Half of AFTRA’s 78,000 members belong to SAG.

SAG’s and AFTRA’s contracts ran concurrently because the two unions used to work jointly during contract talks with the AMPTP. They have since moved separately from each other. SAG negotiators and the AMPTP executives are in their 43^rd day of talks to settle their contract dispute.

In a sign that SAG and the AMPTP are eager to settle their financial differences and work towards solidifying a deal, it appears they might come to an agreement soon. The negotiators for both parties have not stopped communicating despite the contract expiration two days ago. This is good news for the Los Angeles community which suffered $2.5 billion in economic losses during the recent 2007/2008 writer’s strike.

When Guild negotiators take the offer from the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and review it over several days, that is a clear indication the immediate offer is workable pending minor contract issues. Should that be the case, combined with AFTRA’s possible July 8^th ratification of its tentative contract with the AMPTP, it could be the final hold-out SAG has before accepting a tentative agreement.

Much to the relief of many in the entertainment industry who are depending on the Screen Actor’s Guild and the AMPTP to come to terms, a contract agreement similar to the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists will re-energize the industry with much needed work.

There’s no business like show business.

There no people like show people.

Let’s go on with the show!

– Irving Berlin