* * Watchdog Exclusive: SAG Plenary and membership meetings message. AFTRA apologists take a hike.

With all the talk about a war between SAG and AFTRA it was an interesting weekend.

First the plenary all day Saturday, and Sunday morning, and then a membership meeting that followed.

Everyone is pretty tight lipped about what happened at the plenary but reading between the lines, I think it's fair to say that the USAN and branch “AFTRA apologists” were not happy campers when they hiked out at the end of the meeting in what can best be described as a single unit.

Perhaps, it was the idea expressed to them that they are SAG members with a responsibility to look after the interest of SAG members, rather than AFTRA's interests, that put them a bad mood.

It become pretty apparent as the Ol’ Dog watched a grim, New York branch president, and second VP, Sam Freed, make a pro merger speech with a plea for one union.

Unfortunately, that union as laid out in Phase one, would look a lot more like AFTRA than SAG. Actually, I like the idea of one union for actors as long as that union is SAG. (AFTRA can have all the broadcasters, thank you.)

After the pledge of Allegiance we heard from President Alan Rosenberg, NED Doug Allen, 1st National VP Kent McCord, 2nd VP Sam Freed and a regional branch division report by David Hartly-Margolin, who was bumped up in order, because he had a plane to catch.

Alan was warm and funny as he talked about the plight of the middle-aged actor-he reported that he’d just turned fifty-five. He also reminded us of the importance of standing firm for a fair deal in 2008 when SAG faces 7 different contract negotiations. Quoting NED Allen, he reminded us that if a union is not prepared to strike, it is not collective bargaining, but rather collective begging.

There was talk of pride because SAG had received its Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Also, good news from Deputy NED & Chief FOC Peter C. Frank that 80% of residuals are getting out in 30 days, the remainder in forty five. The resolution of SAG to support the WGA was read. Membership Outreach and an improved website by 1st of next year was noted. With the rejection of FTAC’s 301 petition, NED Allen talked about Federal and State Tax incentives.

Most of the open mike session was dominated by AFTRA board members and delegates, who obviously got there early and signed up to speak. With the exception of one SAG member, who was so upset at AFTRA for low-balling SAG’s rates that he suggest that Dual card members hold back there dues until they stopped. (He got a big hand)

All of the confrontationaly tinged questions were answered politely with expertise by Mr. Rosenberg, Allen, McCord, and the staff. In fact, I must say in all the membership meetings I’ve gone to, I’ve never seen a better job by those on the dais.

NED Allen remarked to the merger messengers that merger was sort of like world peace, it may be a good idea but the devil is in the details. He reminded the speaker that merger between SAG and AFTRA had been rejected 16 times for many reasons. He talked of Proportionality, the problem with one unions members (AFTRA) working non-union with impunity, where members crossed the hall from a union job to work non-union. (MSNBC)

He also answered the charge that unit voting was undemocratic. In fact, he explained that it was the bases of democracy. For instance, in SAG's case, each member on the SAG negotiating team gets a vote, and the majority "rules" on behalf of Screen Actor Guild Members. ( Much more democratic than the block voting that occurs at AFTRA. If the leadership doesn’t like your vote, they knock you off your block, and you’re replaced.)

NED Allen talked about his strategy for dealing with the AMPTP, he said that what he intended to do was…ah, hmmm, gosh I seem to have forgotten that part. Sorry, about that Nick.

Well, the Ol Dog has been going on, and it’s getting late. In closing I just want to say I was proud of all our guys, damn if we didn’t sound like a strong union with a mission to not only protect our members but to get them the best damn deal we can in the 2008 negotiations, no matter how hard that other union's current leadership tries to stop us.

SAG board votes WGA support

By Carl DiOrio
Oct 29, 2007

SAG's board, which has been split over a recent showdown with AFTRA, met in plenary session this weekend but publicly acknowledged only the passage of a statement of support for the WGA in that guild's contract talks with the studios.

The board met all day Saturday and Sunday morning, followed by a membership meeting Sunday afternoon. But it was unclear whether the board formally considered any change to its earlier decision to adopt so-called bloc voting in its own looming contract negotiations.

Under SAG's longstanding "Phase One" agreement with AFTRA, the two labor organizations have been set to negotiate jointly their next collective-bargaining agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers.

The current pact is set to expire June 30, and early planning for negotiating the next contract normally would begin in the near future. But AFTRA recently claimed SAG's move toward bloc voting has effectively severed the Phase One agreement.

Under bloc voting, SAG members on the SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee first would caucus among themselves and then lodge a unanimous vote on any negotiating issue coming before the committee. Even within SAG, the move has been controversial, with the guild and its board split geographically by the controversy.

Many Hollywood branch members view bloc voting as a means of minimizing influence from AFTRA, whom they often view as a jurisdictional interloper. But New York division members tend to be pro-AFTRA, even regularly calling for the merger of SAG and AFTRA.

On Saturday, the SAG board passed a statement of support for the WGA, currently locked in difficult film and TV negotiations with the AMPTP.

"The guild supports the WGA and any other guild or union that seeks (to) fight for fair compensation and protections for creative talent in the motion picture, television, and new media industries," the SAG board said.

The board also criticized the AMPTP's current bargaining positions as "unreasonable." SAG directors specifically objected to management's balking at increased DVD and Internet compensation, and to its since-withdrawn proposal to tie a cost-recouping provision to future residual payments.

SAG has an advisory committee monitoring the WGA's contract talks.