I dropped everything Monday morning when I read this item on Jonathan Handel's widely-read Hollywood industry blog. The Screen Actors Guild was convening its national board for an emergency meeting to decide what action to take on the current deal offered to them by management, or as we all came to know the faceless corporate collective during the writers' strike, the AMPTP.
And there were going to be dueling rallies outside, held by factions within the actors' union who are bitterly divided over their negotiating strategy with management. Duelling rallies by angry unionists who know how to perform for a camera? That sounded a lot more interesting than critics' tour!
Before it could confront its adversaries in management, the SAG board first had to confront its internal bickering. That was the occasion for this meeting, convened by SAG president Alan Rosenberg. (Oddly enough, four hours later I would be on the set of "CSI," with among others, Marg Helgenberger, who is credited by some with having gotten her husband into union politics.)
SAG members are divided between hardliners -- who point out the AMPTP's deal stinks and the only way to get management's attention is to authorize a strike -- and moderates -- who agree the deal stinks, but point out that one major reason for that is the obstinate and clueless negotiating tactics of SAG leadership. A bunch of A-list actors recently affixed their names to a letter essentially in an attempt to undermine its own leadership and force a new way of bargaining with the AMPTP that didn't look so patently like the union was spoiling for a strike.
Anyway, I got there at 8 o'clock and there were no rallies, just a couple of dozen hardliners leafletting the members as they arrived at the Wilshire Boulevard headquarters of SAG. Two anti's started leafletting as well, though they both belonged to another union, IATSE. Eventually they were joined by a handful of SAG members mostly for moral support. Quick -- which of the leaflets here was being circulated by the hardliners and which by the moderates? Confusing, ain't it? And take a look at Ed Asner's sign. SAG insiders would know that Asner was sending, as he put it, a "facetious" message ... but outsiders like me required a translation.
Jonathan and I spent a couple of hours talking to and interviewing people on both sides and witnessed some of the bickering between sides that has marked this contentious period in SAG's often-contentious history. I'm already hearing from hardliners who tell me Jonathan has an "agenda" -- unlike themselves, I guess. Of course Jonathan has a point of view -- and I've been pretty upfront with my readers about what it is. I continue passing along his insights not because they're "objective" but because they're well-informed, and because Jonathan's style is reasonable and he's willing to debate people who don't behave like children when they discover an "enemy" is in their midst. (Seriously, guys, could you be more cartoonish?)
As of this hour, there is little to report out of the board meeting, which apparently went all night. At about 9:20 p.m. last night Jonathan called to tell me that Variety had reported the board had ousted its chief negotiator, though later this was strenuously denied. At any rate, talks are ongoing right now, and I will have a story out later this morning explaining what's going on to people outside the bubble. Just as soon as I write it ....
CONTINUED AND WITH VIDEO on this post.
P.S. The leaflet on the left is the hardliners'.
As co-founder and member of the Wildbunch I just want to thank you on your article. I must have missed you on the interview you did with our guys. I was on the other end doing some interviews myself with other media. It least it shows a different light on our group. When people see some of our members for the first time as actors they I guess don't think we are well informed about our union or what is really going on.Kind of like a stereotype. In fact the last ten years we have run our own slate of candidates for the board of directors and have been sucessful several times. I like the rest of our members believe in fighting for what you believe in. In this case getting what we deserve and what is right.
By the way are you really in Kansas City ? Or are you from Kansas City live here and report. I was in Kansas City several times. I liked it, especially all the jazz and musical spots. I was stationed at Ft. Leonardwood. I am a former vietnam vet. www.thewarisnotover.com
Take Care and wish us luck with our Sag Contract.
Rico Bueno
Posted by: Rico Bueno | January 14, 2009 at 05:45 PM