SAG, AFTRA Chiefs Debate Over Contract

By Danny King

Leaders of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists debated on a radio interview yesterday over whether AFTRA's agreement on a contract with the studios earlier this week improved actors' rights and financial position.

SAG President Alan Rosenberg, speaking in an interview hosted by Santa Monica, Calif.-based public radio station KCRW, said that his union's members "have been screwed" by AFTRA's agreement, adding that "the contract that's on the table is inadequate and frightening in many respects."

THE KCRW INTERVIEW: SAG vs. AFTRA

AFTRA President Roberta Reardon blasted SAG for what she called "an expensive and ferocious campaign" that was "an unconscionable attack on a union's internal process."

AFTRA on July 8 approved a proposed contract with the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers by a 62 percent majority after SAG had mounted a lobbying campaign urging AFTRA members to reject the contract. AFTRA in March decided to negotiate with the studios without SAG, marking the first time in more than a quarter century that the guilds bargained seperately.

The two union leaders also disagreed on whether their guilds should have equal rights in voting on an upcoming commercials contract. Mr. Rosenberg said the voting rights should be proportional to membership size while Ms. Reardon said she opposed "having minority status on what's essentially our contract."

(Editor: Baumann)