“Your leadership believes that we must be empowered with the real threat of a work stoppage in order to let management know that we are committed to protecting the future of all actors,” he wrote. “We ask for your support, knowing that you have entrusted us to fight for your rights, and to protect your wages, working conditions and your health and pension benefits. We take your trust very, very seriously and will work towards reaching a fair agreement without a work stoppage.”
In a move that portends a volley of PR moves over the coming weeks, the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers blasted back at Rosenberg shortly after the missive went out.
“SAG’s latest mass email fails on three counts,” the AMPTP said. “It fails to explain why SAG deserves more than everyone else in the industry. It fails to justify why SAG members should bail out a failed negotiating strategy by striking during a time of historic economic crisis. And it fails to explain why it makes sense to strike when SAG members will lose more during the first few days of the strike than they could ever expect to gain.”
Rosenberg didn’t disclose the exact date when the ballots will go out and SAG will need at least three weeks to conduct the voting. Obtaining a strike authorization requires approval by 75% of those voting and the final decision to strike rests with SAG’s national board.
The move came four days after marathon talks between SAG and the majors broke down amid efforts by a federal mediator to broker a deal. The AMPTP has already warned that if SAG obtains approval of the authorization, a strike becomes inevitable because of SAG’s unwillingness to compromise on its “unrealistic demands.”
Read it here: SAG inches closer to strike