SAG MEMBERS OVERWHELMINGLY RATIFY TV/THEATRICAL CONTRACTS

NEWS: SAG PRESS RELEASE
Los Angeles, (June 9, 2009) – Screen Actors Guild announced today that members have voted overwhelmingly to approve its TV/Theatrical contracts by a vote of 78 percent to 22 percent.

The two-year successor agreement covers film and digital television programs, motion pictures and new media productions. The pact becomes effective at 12:01 a.m. June 10, 2009 and expires June 30, 2011.

The contracts provide more than $105 million in wages, increased pension contributions, and other gains and establishes a template for SAG coverage of new media formats.

Approximately 110,000 SAG members received ballots of which 35.26 percent returned them – a return that is above average compared with typical referenda on Screen Actors Guild contracts. Integrity Voting Systems of Everett, WA, provided election services and tonight certified the final vote tally upon completion of the tabulation.

The vote count in the Hollywood Division was 70.70 percent to 29.30 percent in favor. In the New York Division, the vote count was 85.74 percent to 14.26 percent in favor. And in the Regional Branch Division, the vote count was 89.06 percent to 10.94 percent in favor.

Screen Actors Guild President Alan Rosenberg said, "The membership has spoken and has decided to work under the terms of this contract that many of us, who have been involved in these negotiations from the beginning, believe to be devastatingly unsatisfactory. Tomorrow morning I will be contacting the elected leadership of the other talent unions with the hope of beginning a series of pre-negotiation summit meetings in preparation for 2011. I call upon all SAG members to begin to ready themselves for the battle ahead,” Rosenberg added.

Screen Actors Guild Interim National Executive Director David White said, “This decisive vote gets our members back to work with immediate pay raises and puts SAG in a strong position for the future. Preparation for the next round of negotiations begins now. Our members can expect more positive changes in the coming months as we organize new work opportunities, repair and reinvigorate our relationships with our sister unions and industry partners, and continue to improve the Guild’s operations.”

Screen Actors Guild Chief Negotiator John McGuire said, "I want to thank the SAG members and staff who dedicated their time to the negotiations process. We emerged with a solid deal that the members have now voted up. The negotiating team worked tirelessly, building on the work of the first negotiating committee, to deliver these improvements to members.”

Screen Actors Guild began talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on April 15, 2008. Guild Chief Negotiator John McGuire, Interim National Executive Director David White, and Deputy National Executive Director for Contracts Ray Rodriguez, working with a 10-person negotiating task force comprised of Screen Actors Guild board members and officers representing the three divisions, reached the tentative agreement on April 16, 2009 after 12 months of periodic negotiations with the motion picture studios and television networks.

For further information on the new contract, including the full text and a summary of the agreement, click here.

ACTORS RESPOND TO CONTRACT RATIFICATION

Tony Shalhoub, actor
“This is a great decision for SAG and I’m so appreciative of everything the new leadership is doing to put the Guild back on track. They’ve obviously got the right ideas for making SAG stronger.”

Stephen Collins, actor
"This contract passed because members knew it was time to take advantage of the gains our negotiators won and get back to work. On top of that, they understood that risking our ability to negotiate alongside AFTRA and the other unions in the 2011 negotiations would have been a huge mistake. It's a great day for SAG."

Sam Freed, actor, 2nd National Vice President
“This decision by the membership marks the end of a very long process. We can now move forward with a new sense of certainty.”

Sue-Anne Morrow, actor, National Board Member representing New York
"This is a good deal with good gains. SAG's members clearly agree. It's about time we got a raise. I'm so pleased that SAG's members exercised their right to be heard and said 'Yes!'."

Mike Hodge, actor, National Board Member representing New York
“I am extremely pleased that we have finally come to the close of a long, unproductive period. I am hopeful that we can heal our wounds and really start the work to become a unified, national union.”

Nancy Duerr, actor, National Board Member representing SAG Florida Branch
"This is a victory for SAG performers across our region. Stalled and delayed productions can now get underway, boosting our local economies. This contract not only puts more money in members' pockets, it preserves the high standards of working conditions our members have come to expect."

Todd Hissong, actor, Chicago Branch President, National Board Member
"By passing this referendum, Chicago members have sent a clear message that we want to get back to work. Screen Actors Guild members across the country have yet again demonstrated our grasp of the issues, the importance of unionism, and our need to stand together with our sister unions to make deals that benefit us all.”

David Hartley-Margolin, Colorado actor, SAG 3rd Vice President
“The membership always has the last word when it comes to contract matters. They have spoken. Their endorsement of the deal with the AMPTP ends the uncertainty that has been hovering over us and allows Screen Actors Guild and the industry to move forward together.”

SAG ANNOUNCES ONLINE STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY

NEWS: SAG PRESS RELEASE

Alec Baldwin, George Clooney, Sally Field and Tom Hanks Sign Statement of Support for a YES Vote on the Tentative TV/Theatrical Agreements

Los Angeles, (May 29, 2009) - Screen Actors Guild today announced the names of 500 members who are among the first to sign SAG’s new “Statement of Support” in securing ratification of the tentative TV/Theatrical agreements. The signers include Academy Award™ winners George Clooney, Sally Field and Tom Hanks.

SAG National Board Members including Adam Arkin, Amy Brenneman, Morgan Fairchild, Dulé Hill, Ken Howard and Kate Walsh signed the statement. Former SAG President Melissa Gilbert signed, as did SAG 2nd VP Sam Freed, SAG 3rd VP David Hartley Margolin, and other notable actors such as Alec Baldwin, Ed Begley Jr., Jane Curtin, Mike Farrell, Patricia Heaton, Kathy Joosten, Rob Lowe, Ian McShane and Sam Waterston.

The SAG “Statement of Support” reads:

“I support Screen Actors Guild National Board of Directors and negotiators, and wholeheartedly recommend that SAG members VOTE YES on our tentative Television and Theatrical Contracts. The agreement provides important gains for members across the country, including a 6.5% increase in wages, additional union jobs for background actors in television programs and motion pictures, increases in major role performer payments, first time ever payments for programs streamed on the Internet and many other protections and provisions for new media. It’s time to put our industry back to work. I urge you to VOTE YES on this contract.”

The SAG.org website now features video testimonials and topical messages from Arkin, Brenneman, Hanks, Walsh and other members prominently displayed in a homepage video viewer. These videos can also be seen on SAG’s YouTube channel. Additional videos, including a message from Sally Field, will be added soon.

Initial signers of support include:
Amy Aquino
Adam Arkin
René Auberjonois
Dylan Baker
Kathy Baker
Alec Baldwin
David Alan Basche
Ed Begley Jr.
Alan Blumenfeld
Bruce Boxleitner
Amy Brenneman
L. Scott Caldwell
Gabrielle Carteris
George Clooney
Jack Coleman
Stephen Collins
Peter Coyote
Ellen Crawford
Ashley Crow
Michael Cudlitz
Steven Culp
Jane Curtin
Tim DeKay
Stacy Edwards
Morgan Fairchild
Mike Farrell
Sally Field
Kate Flannery
Kat Foster
Sam Freed
Kurt Fuller
Victor Garber
Lee Garlington
Jason George
Melissa Gilbert
Christopher Gorham
John Glover
Arye Gross
Annabelle Gurwitch
Tom Hanks
Mariette Hartley
Patricia Heaton
Dulé Hill
Judith Hoag
Ken Howard
Brian Howe
Gregory Itzin
Kathryn Joosten
James LeGros
Rob Lowe
John Carroll Lynch
Wendie Malick
Camryn Manheim
David Hartley Margolin
Ian McShane
Kathleen Noone
Mitch Pileggi
Robert Pine
Jason Priestley
Jeremy Ratchford
Pamela Reed
Mitch Ryan
Chris Sarandon
Rafael Sbarge
David Shatraw
Bill Smitrovich
Stacey Travis
Ned Vaughn
Marcia Wallace
Kate Walsh
Sam Waterston
Mykelti Williamson

SAG: "Don't be tricked into voting against the TV/Theatrical Contract"

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE FROM THE SCREEN ACTORS GUILD:
Don't be Tricked into Voting Against the TV/Theatrical Contract

Some members are trying to take our union down and continue to circulate misinformation about our tentative agreement.

Don’t be fooled into voting down a good deal, with real gains for actors.The opponents would like you to believe they have a "plan" if this agreement is voted down. They've never actually said what that plan is, and for the last year, their plan failed miserably. You lost jobs, wages and maybe even your health coverage.· After a year of negotiations and 11 months of working without a contract, we finally have a good deal.· After losing wage increases of $85 million over the last year, actors and their families need this deal now.· We need the pay raises, added residuals, better benefits, and protections for the future offered by this contract.WE have a plan – to approve this contract, get our raises, rebuild our union, and restore union pride.

Just ask yourself if it’s smart to say no to a deal with real, solid financial gains for SAG actors. After a year working without a contract… is that really smart?

A YES vote is the smart vote.

So, when you see negative attacks launched by the opponents of this deal, ask them: What’s the alternative? They won’t give an answer, because they don’t have one.

Click www.sag.org/sag-tv to see what working SAG actors think on SAG TV: “What's the Alternative?”Vote YES today and mail your ballot.Go to www.sag.org for the facts. SAG’s National Board majority knows what the alternative to a YES vote means. And they want you to know, too.For more detailed information regarding the TV/Theatrical tentative agreements, visit the Contract Center on the SAG website at www.sag.org or email your questions or comments to Contract2009@sag.org.

ED ASNER CALLS FOR CREATION OF NEW ACTORS UNION IN HOLLYWOOD

MEMBERSHIP FIRST'S ED ASNER SPOKE AT A RALLY IN GRIFFITH PARK IN LA ON MAY 17 AND CALLED FOR MEMBERSHIP FIRST TO CONSIDER BREAKING AWAY FROM SAG AND CREATING A NEW ACTORS UNION IF THE TV/THEATRICAL CONTRACT IS RATIFIED BY MEMBERS.

"PIGMIES OF THE ENTERTAINMENT WORLD" IS HOW ED ASNER, A FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE SCREEN ACTORS GUILD, DEFINED THOUSANDS OF WORKING ACTORS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

THE FORMER SAG PRESIDENT SAYS "HE HAS NO BIG SOLUTIONS" BUT URGES MEMEBERSHIP FIRST PARTISANS TO CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE TV/THEATRICAL CONTRACT.

Below is the entire explosively divisive speech made by former SAG President Ed Asner at Membership First's "Vote No Rally" in Griffith Park on May 17, 2009.

ED ASNER (into bullhorn): "Does this work? I wish I was. (Laughter). Uhhh…I understand that, what is it, on the 21st? Uh..Mr.—Mr. White, is going to deliver a (Off: "Hang the white guy!")…deliver a…(Off: "Traitor!")…a considered opinion as to why we should okay this contract. And, ah, I gather you'll all be there to help him explain (Off: "Oh yeah!") and to delineate and—uh—show people how we'll benefit in future years from this great contract.

I am merely here to add to all the other good people that talked to you today,and to say that it is the beginning of the end if we sign this contract. It may well be the "end of the end", I don't know. There's a Churchill-ian phrase for that (Off, female voice says something in Italian). What she say? (Off: malevoice "We just gotta defeat it!") Oh! Well! Defeat it! Yes!

But we are surrounded by the pigmies of the entertainment world. We're surrounded by New York, and its little people branches and it—it's an enormous uphill fight that we have to fight, to win this battle.

WE –control –and inspire the working actors in this business. We are Hollywood. Hollywood is the heart and soul of this business (applause). And I really don't have—you've heard me speak many times in the past—I don't have any big solutions or hopes, or resolutions, but I call upon you here today, that if they defeat us in this contract, that it is up to all of us—all of us—to go out and create a new union to believe in. Because these other bastards will have betrayed us. We will have to fight for what WE want, for ourselves, our children, and the future and dignity of screen-actors in Hollywood.

You are Hollywood. Don't let them betray the principals by which our union has existed. It began in Hollywood, and prospered in Hollywood and the moguls respected it. Now these moguls are dirty, shorted—tramps. They do not believe in anything in concerning—they certainly never held down a job. Other than being a mogul. It is up to us to restore the dignity that the former moguls allowed; the Lew Wassermans in this town. It's up to us to find those people to control and not let science run away with the Igers and the, uh, Peter Chernins and the ,uh, Les Moonves, and the Sumner---what ever the hell his name is---Redstone! What a strange name for a Jewish man! (Laughter).

We have to fight them here and now. We have to re-create Hollywood, if necessary, if National SAG betrays us with this contract.Remember that. Think about it. Think about how to do that. I thank you for letting me speak." (Applause).

end transcription

SAG TOWNHALL MEETINGS IN HOLLYWOOD AND NEW YORK: VOTE "YES" ON THE TV/THEATRICAL CONTRACT

SAG NEWS: A Letter from David White:

As you know, the Screen Actors Guild National Board of Directors voted April 19, 2009, to approve and recommend to members, new, two-year successor agreements to the 2005 Producer-Screen Actors Guild Codified Basic Agreement and 2005 Screen Actors Guild Television Agreement.



Ballots will be mailed to all eligible members on May 19, 2009. Ballots must be mailed in the return envelope provided and received at the Everett, WA, post office box no later than 5:00 p.m. (PDT) June 9, 2009. Ballots received after this deadline, or at a location other than the post office box, will not be counted.



We are holding member informational meetings so that you can hear about the tentative agreement and ask questions. Member informational meetings are scheduled for Hollywood and New York as follows and will be announced for Branch locations next week.



HOLLYWOOD

Thursday, May 21, 2009

7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Renaissance Hollywood Hotel

Hollywood Ballroom

1755 N. Highland Ave.

Hollywood, CA 90028



PARKING: No-host self parking at Hollywood & Highland – validation available at the Hollywood & Highland complex: $2 for 4 hours when you are validated in any shop, restaurant or theatre that is part of the mall. Guild not responsible for illegally parked vehicles.



NEW YORK

Monday, June 1, 2009

6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Directors Guild of America

110 West 57th Street (between 6th & 7th Aves.) New York, New York



Unfortunately, no guests will be allowed. Parents/guardians of younger performers under 18 years-old are welcome. PLEASE BRING YOUR SAG MEMBERSHIP CARD FOR ADMITTANCE (paid thru April 30, 2009). For more information call the National TV/Theatrical Contracts Hotline (323) 549-6665 or email contract2009@sag.org.



Member informational meetings are also planned for Branch locations across the country. More information on Branch member informational meetings will be available shortly.



Please plan to attend the member informational meeting in your area to get important facts regarding the tentative agreement. Screen Actors Guild negotiators, national board members and staff experts will be on hand to provide a thorough overview of the tentative agreement.



You can also find more information on the upcoming referendum, including details of the tentative agreement, by visiting the TV/Theatrical Contracts Center at www.sag.org or by emailing contract2009@sag.org.



We know how important this contract is to all Screen Actors Guild members. We urge you to stay informed by visiting www.sag.org often, attending the member informational meeting in your area and contacting us with questions and comments.



Watch for your ballot which is mailing May 19, 2009, and when you receive it, vote yes and return your ballot right away. Don't delay, ballots must be received by June 9.



In unity,



David P. White

Interim National Executive Director



John T. McGuire

Chief Negotiator



Screen Actors Guild National Board of Directors Strongly Recommends your “Yes” Vote on this contract. Let’s get back to work with a raise.

SAG NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVES TENTATIVE TV/THEATRICAL CONTRACTS AND RECOMMENDS RATIFICATION

SAG'S PRESS RELEASE:
SCREEN ACTORS GUILD NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVES TENTATIVE TELEVISION AND MOTION PICTURE CONTRACTS AND RECOMMENDS RATIFICATION Los Angeles (April 19, 2009)

– The Screen Actors Guild National Board of Directors today voted 53.38 percent to 46.62 percent to approve and recommend to members, new, two-year successor agreements to the 2005 Producer-Screen Actors Guild Codified Basic Agreement and 2005 Screen Actors Guild Television Agreement.

The proposed agreement, covering actors in motion pictures and television delivers 3.5% effective annual increases comprised of a 3% wage increase and a .5% pension and health contribution increase upon ratification, and a 3.5% wage increase in year two.

The board passed the below motion shortly after 4:00 p.m. today: It was moved and seconded that the National Board directs the Interim National Executive Director to send the tentative agreement between the Producers represented by the AMPTP and the Screen Actors Guild for successor agreements to the 2005 Producer–Screen Actors Guild Codified Basic Agreement and the 2005 Screen Actors Guild Television Agreement to the membership for ratification, with a recommendation from the Board to vote ‘Yes.’Approved: 53.38% –46.62%

“I urge members to carefully review both the pros and cons in the referendum materials, and exercise their right to vote,” said Screen Actors Guild National President Alan Rosenberg. Interim National Executive Director David White said: “We are pleased that Screen Actors Guild members will soon be voting on a deal for television and motion pictures. We’re eager to get our members back to work and to focus now on the challenges ahead, particularly on initiating a comprehensive effort to thoughtfully plan for the future. Our negotiating committee, task force and professional staff have worked countless hours on this agreement over the last year. On behalf of the National Board, I thank them for their time, commitment and expertise.” Chief Negotiator John McGuire stated: “This tentative agreement delivers increased contributions to the SAG pension plan, increased minimums, a significant gain in background actor numbers from 50 to 55 over the term of the contract, and it tracks the new media provisions achieved by other entertainment industry unions. The term of the agreement puts SAG in sync with the other unions, and does not include the extended term recently proposed by the AMPTP.”

Provisions of the proposed deal include:
• A two-year term of agreement concluding June 30, 2011.
• Effective annual increases comprised of 3.0% in wage increases and .5% in pension contributions upon ratification, and a 3.5% wage increase one year following ratification.
• A new media structure that tracks those achieved by other industry unions, resulting in gains for actors including:o Jurisdiction on all derivative, made-for new media productions; automatic jurisdiction on all high-budget, original, made-for new media productions; plus jurisdiction on low budget original, new media productions that employee at least 1 covered performer.o Residuals for exhibition of TV and Theatrical motion pictures on consumer pay platforms (Electronic Sell Through) at a greater percentage than those paid for DVD distribution.o Residuals for ad-supported streaming of feature films and television programs.o Residuals for derivative new media programs.
• Additional 5 covered background actors in feature films. From 50 to 53 covered background positions upon ratification of the contract, and from 53 to 55 covered background positions in year 2. Adds 1 covered background position in TV, from 19 to 20, upon ratification.• Increased compensation for guest star premium from 7.5% to 10%.
• Increased trailer money break from $2,500 to $3,000, or more per week.
• Increased overtime money break for three-day performers from $2,700 to $3,000.Ratification ballots will be mailed to eligible SAG members in early May, with an expected return date at the end of the month. Tabulation will occur immediately upon the conclusion of balloting.Bargaining for a successor agreement to the 2005 SAG TV/Theatrical Contract began on April 15, 2008.

SAG/AMPTP REACH TENTATIVE AGREEMENT ON TV/THEATRICAL CONTRACT--MEMBERSHIP FIRST VOWS TO FIGHT RATICFICATION

Variety has reported on SAG and the AMPTP reaching a tentative agreement on the TV/Theatrical contract. This is the same contract that Membership First's Alan Rosenberg, along with SAG's previous National Exec Director Doug Allen, were unable to negotiate. Now that some progress has been made, Membership First, lead by Alan Rosenberg and Anne-Marie Johnson, have vowed to fight ratification.

Here's Variety's report on the issue:

SAG, AMPTP reach tentative deal
Guild's national board to review this Sunday
By VARIETY STAFF, VARIETY STAFF

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118002545.html?categoryid=1066&cs=1


SAG and the congloms have reached a tentative agreement on the
feature-primetime contract -- nearly 10 months after the previous deal
expired.
Both the Screen Actors Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and
Television Producers made the announcement early Friday afternoon.

SAG's national board is expected to approve the terms of the pact at
its meeting this weekened -- triggering the mailing of ratification
ballots to its 120,000 members.

The deal comes following two months of back-channels talks between SAG
toppers and moguls such as Disney's Robert Iger and News Corp.'s Peter
Chernin. The last key points to be settled centered on SAG insisting
on an expiration date in June 2011 in order to stay in synch with the
WGA, DGA and AFTRA expirations.

The back-channel talks also focused on settling claims for force
majeure payments to actors from TV series that went dark during the
writers strike.

Deal comes three months after the moderate majority on SAG's board
ousted Doug Allen as SAG national exec director for allegedly botching
the negotiations. Allen was replaced by David White as interim
national exec director and by John McGuire as chief negotiator.

The hardline Memebership First faction, which lost its board majority
last fall, has vowed it will urge members to vote down the deal -- on
grounds that it falls short in on on multitude of areas, particularly
new media.

The AMPTP has contended that its offer -- first made last summer -- is
in line with those deals accepted by the other guilds last year and
remains generous amid the declining economy.

SAG'S CONTRACT TALKS DISTRUPTED BY LAWSUIT BY PRESIDENT ALAN ROSENBERG

SAG'S CONTRACT TALKS WITH AMPTP DERAILED BY ROSENBERG, JOHNSON, MCCORD AND LADD. INTERIM NATIONAL DIRECTOR DAVID WHITE SENDS MEMO TO MEMBERS EXPLAINING.

Dear Screen Actors Guild member,

As you know, the Guild was scheduled to resume negotiations today regarding the expired TV/Theatrical contract. However, that meeting had to be postponed due to a legal matter that has been brought against the Guild, which is now before a state court in Los Angeles. I am writing to present you with information about this development.

Yesterday, the Guild received notice that President Alan Rosenberg, 1st Vice President Anne-Marie Johnson and National Board members Kent McCord and Diane Ladd filed a lawsuit against the Guild challenging the January 26, 2009 “written assent” presented by a majority of the National Board of Directors. As you know, that written assent terminated the Guild’s relationship with its then-National Executive Director; created and appointed a national task force to advise the Chief Negotiator and the Board on the TV/Theatrical negotiations; named John T. McGuire as Chief Negotiator; and named me as Interim National Executive Director. If successful, this legal action could impact or even reverse those board actions.

As a result, attorneys for Screen Actors Guild appeared this morning in Los Angeles Superior Court to respond to the lawsuit. After hearing from attorneys representing the plaintiffs, as well as the response from SAG counsel, the Court ruled that the lawsuit was procedurally defective and refused to issue the requested injunction.

The Plaintiffs’ counsel then stated that they intend to amend their documents and resubmit them this Thursday morning, February 5, 2009. The Guild will present a vigorous defense.The Guild understands the importance of concluding negotiations and securing a fair contract for SAG members and looks forward to re-engaging with the AMPTP as soon as possible. In the meantime, the Guild continues to work in the service of its members, with focus, dedication and commitment.

David White
Interim National Executive Director

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.