Wednesday, January 28, 2009

ALAN ROSENBERG: "MY LIFE SUCKS"

SAG NEWS:

SAG PREZ ROSENBERG IN AN INTERVIEW AT 'THE WRAP':

Read this interview at by Sharon Waxman at The Wrap http://www.thewrap.com/article/1138

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

A MESSAGE FROM NEW NED DAVID WHITE

Dear Screen Actors Guild member,

As I enter my first full day today as your new Interim National Executive Director, I have reflected on a Los Angeles Examiner story from 1937 that once hung on the wall of my Screen Actors Guild office when I served as General Counsel.

The article chronicled the moment when the studios had finally recognized the Guild as the labor representative for actors in the motion picture industry. A grainy photograph captured members celebrating the news together, the joy in their faces richly evident. That moment, and the incredible work that it took Guild members to reach that moment, have served as the foundation for 75 years of history that has followed.

In my previous tenure at the Guild, I worked alongside several elected National Boards, two presidents (current President Rosenberg and former President Melissa Gilbert) and three National Executive Directors. My intention now, as Interim National Executive Director, will be to work with your current National Board to navigate through a period that is brimming with both challenges and opportunities – from completing our TV/Theatrical negotiations; to preparing for and securing a new Commercials contract as well as several other smaller but critically important labor agreements; to repairing relations with our sister unions; and addressing a polarized political system that is perceived by too many of our members as being close to broken. As we confront these efforts together, my overarching goal is this: to help restore your confidence that this is a union where strong and wise decisions are made despite political differences.

The greatest challenge facing this union is to find a way for democratic leadership to flourish – for disagreement and debate to build into unity and power. The Guild’s diversity of opinion should, and must, serve as a source of strength and solidarity. I believe in the Guild’s capacity for this. And that is why today I offer two messages to each and every member: First, I will be at the office each day to work with your talented staff and your National Board to achieve objectives that advance your interests as actors; and, second, it is time to turn the page on the most destructive aspects of the Guild’s internal politics.

In this swiftly changing environment, we will not be successful if we do not work together. This effort will take an entire union – all members, from background actors, to stunt performers, to voice over actors; those working in film television, commercials, industrials and video games; dancers and singers; middle-class actors, to high-profile ones, to struggling artists working each day to break through for their first chance. We must work together. Because if not, the well-known words that a previous leader offered to a once-divided collection of citizens will matter to us now: united we stand; divided we fall.

During this extraordinary period for both our union and country, I am again reminded of the achievement of the Guild’s founders as recounted in that 1937 Los Angeles Examiner story. Their achievement came as a result of a supreme effort by a group of committed performers willing to set aside their differences in pursuit of that shared purpose. The result: they built an organization whose membership card today remains the ultimate benchmark for professional performers. The triumph of the Guild’s founders cannot be overstated – nor can the sacrifice, wisdom and political maturity that was required to achieve it.

I enter this interim role with the grand history of the Screen Actors Guild rooted firmly in my mind. I did not seek this position, but I am honored to act as its temporary custodian. You have my pledge that I will direct all my energies to steadying this historic organization and ensuring its success. I thank the Guild’s National Board for the confidence and trust they have placed in me on your behalf. And I look forward to working together, in solidarity.

David White
Interim National Executive Director
Screen Actors Guild

Monday, January 26, 2009

MESSAGE FROM SAG'S NATIONAL BOARD REGARDING DOUG ALLEN FIRING

SAG'S NATIONAL BOARD BREAKS THROUGH CONTRACT NEGOTIATION STALEMATE--FIRES INEFFECTUAL NATIONAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DOUG ALLEN AND REPLACES HIM WITH INTERIM NATIONAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DAVID WHITE. NATIONAL BOARD WORKS TO GET CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS ON TRACK.


SAG PRESS RELEASE
A Message to Members from the SAG National Board Majority

Today we took an important and necessary action to address the leadership crisis at Screen Actors Guild. Representatives from SAG’s National Board majority delivered a “written assent” document to SAG headquarters which authorized the following: Doug Allen is immediately replaced as National Executive Director by former SAG General Counsel David White, who will serve as interim NED; Guild Senior Advisor John T. McGuire is appointed as Chief Negotiator of all SAG contracts; the TV/Theatrical Contract Negotiating Committee is replaced by a Taskforce which will complete negotiations on behalf of the Board of Directors.

In a meeting two weeks ago, a majority of the board sought to make the crucial changes now contained in the written assent, but were derailed by President Alan Rosenberg and a minority of board members through endless parliamentary games and improper behavior. By filibustering for over 28 straight hours, they prevented the Board from ever taking a vote on the majority’s proposal.

This unprecedented level of obstruction has paralyzed the Guild.

Written assent is included in SAG’s constitution to allow a majority of the Board to take action outside the boardroom if necessary. While extraordinary circumstances may require the use of written assent, we do not believe it is a desirable way to conduct Guild business. In this case, the unrelenting obstruction by a minority of board members has left us no alternative.

This action has the support of all but one of the National Board members from SAG’S New York and Regional Branch Divisions, and all in the Hollywood Division except those affiliated with the group Membership First. The signed written assent documents were delivered today to SAG headquarters in Los Angeles.

Upon implementation of the approved motion, Interim National Executive Director David White will assume control of all Guild operations and will coordinate with Chief Negotiator John McGuire to contact the AMPTP to undertake resolution of TV/Theatrical Contract negotiations, which ground to a halt nearly seven months ago. The leaner TV/Theatrical Taskforce will work alongside Mr. McGuire as the "eyes and ears of the board," providing input and support as contract negotiations are concluded.

Beyond the stalled TV/Theatrical negotiations, there is much work to be done and SAG members can rest assured that we have secured an exemplary leader in David White. A Rhodes Scholar, Mr. White has extensive industry experience and was SAG's General Counsel from 2002 to 2006. He knows the Guild and its contracts, and has the respect of our staff and the entertainment community. Our Chief Negotiator, John McGuire, is a 40-year SAG staff veteran who has negotiated over 30 contracts and is held in enormous esteem throughout the industry and the labor movement. We have complete confidence in his ability to deliver the best possible contracts for our members.

These much needed changes will allow SAG to chart a new course. We will work to secure a TV/Theatrical Contract that can be sent to members with a positive recommendation, and to effectively resolve all our outstanding contracts, including the Commercials Contract. We will also work to rebuild vital relationships in the entertainment and labor communities, and to reestablish Screen Actors Guild as a respected and powerful institution, protecting and defending performers nationwide.

SAG NATIONAL BOARD TO MEMBERS: SAG NEEDS A CHANGE OF COURSE AND A NEW CAPTAIN

NATIONAL SAG BOARD RESPONDS TO ROSENBERG'S FILLIBUSTER DURING MEETING HELD JANUARY 12 AND 13. NATIONAL BOARD STRUGGLES TO COMPLETE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS FACING MEMBERSHIP FIRST OPPOSITION.

PRESS RELEASE: A MESSAGE TO SAG MEMBERS FROM THE NATIONAL BOARD MAJORITY

Unite for Strength and Board Members from Hollywood, New York and the Regional Branches*As you’re undoubtedly aware, Screen Actors Guild is currently beset by a crippling leadership crisis. With the TV/Theatrical contract having expired nearly 7 months ago, negotiations at a standstill, and our negotiators’ strategy hinging on a strike authorization vote for which there is clearly insufficient support, we called for a special National Board meeting to consider a new approach.

At that meeting, held Jan.12-13, we attempted to postpone the strike authorization vote, replace Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Doug Allen and the negotiating committee, and direct a newly appointed negotiator to restart talks immediately.

Despite strong support for these steps from a clear majority of the National Board, President Alan Rosenberg and Mr. Allen’s other board supporters stood squarely in the way of our implementing them. For 28 hours straight, they used filibusters and other parliamentary games to run out the clock on the meeting and prevent a vote from ever taking place.

The next day Mr. Allen proposed a new plan to shelve the strike authorization, go back to the table to see if “producers would improve their offer” and then send out that offer for ratification with no board recommendation to members, only pro and con statements. It is noteworthy that when faced with a call for his removal, Mr. Allen suddenly saw fit to suspend the strike authorization that has been the cornerstone of his strategy, and indeed the topic of a 12-page promotional newsletter delivered to Hollywood members just days ago.

But unlike the plan we were obstructed from putting into place at the meeting, his is not a serious effort to get a better deal. SAG has never sent members a contract that our National Board didn’t recommend ratifying. We shouldn’t start now.

We firmly believe that SAG needs a change of course and a new captain. Mr. Allen has held fast to a failed strategy for over half a year, even as members have lost nearly $50 million from working under an expired contract. In addition, under Mr. Allen’s tenure, numerous other expired agreements have languished without renegotiation, SAG’s strategic relations with its sister union AFTRA have been badly undermined, and partisan tensions within the Guild have grown steadily worse.With new direction, we can turn this around and put Screen Actors Guild back on the right track.

We will work to quickly send members a TV/Theatrical contract that carries a positive recommendation from the National Board. We will also focus on successfully negotiating the Commercial agreement and other remaining contracts. We will rebuild vital relationships throughout the entertainment industry, and bring much needed stability back to the Guild.

We are now planning concrete steps to achieve this and will keep you updated as events warrant.*

In the interest of compliance with the AFTRA-SAG non-disparagement agreement under the AFL-CIO, Members of SAG’s National Board majority who are also AFTRA officers or board members wish to officially record themselves as abstaining from this statement.

SAG FIRES DOUG ALLEN, APPOINTS TASK FORCE TO COMPLETE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS

Today (1/26/09), National Board of the Screen Actors Guild fired NED Doug Allen, dissolved the Negotiating Comittee and replaced it with a new task force. David White and John Mcguire replace Doug Allen.

More news here:

http://backstage.blogs.com/blogstage/2009/01/moderates-file-motion-to-fire-allen.html

Sunday, January 18, 2009

INSIDE SAG'S BOARDROOM: HOW MEMBERSHIP FIRST CONDUCTS BUSINESS

SAG POLITICS REPORT FROM DIGITAL MEDIA LAW'S JONATHAN HANDEL. READ ABOUT PREZ ALAN ROSENBERG'S AND MEMBERSHIP FIRSTS BEHAVIOR IN THE BOARDROOM.

From his blog, Digital Media Law:

Sources from inside SAG’s marathon board meeting blasted Screen Actors Guild President Alan Rosenberg as a “corrupt and dirty chair,” asserting that he and his Membership First allies repeatedly abused parliamentary rules throughout the “surreal” 28-hour national board meeting earlier this week in order to suppress the SAG board’s moderate majority.



For more on this fascinating report, please visit: http://digitalmedialaw.blogspot.com/2009/01/inside-sag-boardroom.html

Saturday, January 10, 2009

VARIETY REPORTS ON FRANCIS FISHER'S GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN TO 'PUNISH SAG ACTORS' WHO OPPOSE STRIKE

BREAKING NEWS:
VARIETY IS REPORTING ON MEMBERSHIP FIRST'S FRANCIS FISHER'S CALL FOR SAG MEMBERS TO "PUNISH" ACTORS NOMINATED FOR SAG AWARDS WHO OPPOSE STRIKE AUTHORIZATION:

Variety has reported on the Francis Fisher/Membership First "Boycott Campaign".

Here's the report: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117998313.html?categoryid=10&cs=1

Thursday, January 8, 2009

MEMBERSHIP FIRST'S FRANCIS FISHER SUPPORTS ATTACKING ACTORS WHO ARE NOMINATED FOR SAG AWARDS WHO OPPOSE SAG STRIKE

BREAKING NEWS: FRANCIS FISHER URGES ATTACK ON THESPS NOMINATED FOR SAG AWARDS

It is becoming well known that there is a serious rift between actors who are members of the Screen Actors Guild. There are those, mainly behind the SAGs leaders Alan Rosenberg and Doug Allen, and the faction called Membership First who are calling for a strike authorization vote, and those that do not want to strike.For those that want a strike, like actress Francis Fisher, the battle for the voting hearts and minds of actors who will vote on the authorization has become vicious and politcal. Francis Fisher has now brought the battle to the SAG actors who are currently voting for the SAG Awards.This email (below) has been forwarded by Francis Fisher, urging other actors to "punish" those nominated for awards that have spoken out against a strike:

EMAIL FORWARDED BY MEMBERSHIP FIRST'S FRANCIS FISHER:

THESE LETTERS ARE FORWARDS;> IF YOU CHOOSE TO FORWARD THIS TO YOUR SAG COLLEAGUES, PLEASE REMOVE MY NAME AND ADDRESS FROM THE HEADER.>> ***************************> Dear Actor Friends,>>> I’d like you to look at this list of name actors:>> Alec Baldwin> Josh Brolin> Steve Carell> Sally Field> Michael C. Hall> Susan Sarandon> Tony Shalhoub> Kevin Spacey>> These eight and several more of our “high-profile” fellow Guild members have recently done two things:>> (A) They have advised us rank-and-file members to VOTE NO to giving our National> Board the authority to call a strike if the AMPTP refuses to improve its> insulting and contemptuous “last, best and FINAL” offer.>> (B) Now these arrogant elitists are trying to take away our right to even HAVE a> vote on this critical issue. They are telling the National Board to withdraw> the strike authorization referendum.>> This is the National Board which is now dominated by “Unite-for-Strength”> and USAN, their New York allies. U4S and USAN are the same faction which> these SAME STARS endorsed in the September board election.>> And this is the same U4S/USAN-dominated National Board which voted, in October,> (by 97% to 3%) to (1) call in a Federal Mediator, AND — if mediation FAILED –> (2) send out ballots to us — the membership — asking for the authority to> call a strike if the AMPTP continued to insult and demean us.>> And now, many of those same National Board members, with the support of a long> list of star actors and star actor/PRODUCERS, are ready to renege on their vote — their> promise! — to give us members a voice in these fateful negotiations about the> future of middle-class actors.>>> I’m feeling angry and I’m feeling powerless. And I’m ready to do something I wouldn’t have dreamed of until now.>> I’m ready to do something radical.>> I cannot claim the following idea as my own, but I am determined to act on it.>> This advice I’m pasting here was posted on the website USActorsOnScreen.com. I’m not> telling YOU what to do, only that I am going to follow the advice below and> use my vote for the S.A.G. “Actor” Awards to send a message.> ################################################################################>> Darling Actors,>> I’m just a fan. I’m especially a fan of character actors. (My heart belongs to Claude Rains. And Gale Sondergaard is one of my role models.)>> And I follow the labor scene. Lots of struggles on lots of fronts. Not just the Hollywood scene, though it’s especially juicy.>> BOYCOTTS can be an effective weapon in labor struggles. And my labor savvy tells me that YOU have a boycott weapon, in your hands, right now.>> It’s a ballot. Your awards ballot.>> Like every other self-respecting Hollywood institution, you put on an annual AWARDS show. And show-business handicappers love to read YOUR awards as OSCAR tea-leaves. (That’s why many of us tune in.)>> Well, the following actors have two things in common. ONE is that they are nominees for S.A.G. “ACTOR” honors.>> Thing TWO-in-common is this: These rich-and-famous nominees have all signed on to Danny DeVito’s famous open letter. The one where DeVito and his fellow stars tell YOU that YOU should vote against giving YOUR National Board the option of calling a strike, if, IF, the networks and studios keep treating you with contempt.>> Thing-TWO-in-common means this, at least to a watchful fan: These nominees seem to want their union to be weak and to capitulate to the moguls.>> And yet, THEIR UNION might give these union-underminers that prized statuette.>> Those DIS-loyal nominees are . . .>> JOSH BROLIN (”Milk”)>> KEVIN SPACEY (”Recount”)>> SUSAN SARANDON (”Bernard & Doris”)>> MICHAEL C. HALL (”Dexter”)>> SALLY FIELD (”Brothers and Sisters”)>> ALEC BALDWIN (”30 Rock”)>> STEVE CARELL (”The Office”)>> TONY SHALHOUB (”Monk”)>> If I were a regular, ordinary, not-rich-and-famous actor, and if I wanted my union to be strong so it could fight for me . . . would I want to give any of these rich-and-famous UNION-UNDERMINERS my vote? Would I want my union to give them such an honor — MY UNION’s ultimate stamp-of-approval?>> I would remember those names when I began to mark my ballot.>> Most of us in labor only get to vote for union officers, or for new contracts. YOU get to vote for actors who perform outstandingly, AND who (you hope) support the union that is honoring them.>> If the networks and studios beat you down, it will be a disheartening signal to other working folks across the country. Don’t let it happen. Use your strength. And use your awards vote.>> Vote for actors who are loyal to their union.>> In solidarity,>> A spiritual daughter of Jane Darwell>> January 7, 2009 7:19 PM