The main Hollywood acting union is preparing to ballot its members after the failure of the latest talks aimed at ending a 5-month deadlock over a new TV/theatrical contract. Reuters reports that the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) have begun to prepare to ballot members after two-days of mediated talks with the studios organisation the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers, ended without agreement late on Saturday night.
SAG said: "We will now launch a full-scale education campaign in support of a strike-authorization referendum. We will further inform our members about the core, critical issues unique to actors that remain in dispute."
The AMPTP responded by saying: "SAG is bizarrely asking its members to bail out the failed negotiating strategy with a strike vote - at a time of historic economic crisis. The tone deafness of SAG is stunning."
The AMPTP also sent a strongly worded message to its 300 members.
It said: "The more SAG members understand about the fairness and strength of our offer, especially during a time of historic economic distress, the less likely they will be to authorize a strike."
SAG would require 75% of its voting members to approve a strike.
