Union VS Union

SAG says studios offered more to sister union

REPORT: The Screen Actors Guild on Wednesday accused major Hollywood studios of offering a contract deal worth less than an agreement approved by the leaders of a smaller actors union.

SAG executive director Doug Allen told The Associated Press the offer to the guild was worth tens of millions of dollars less than the tentative contract reached with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

The deal with the federation was reached during a temporary halt in the talks between SAG and the studios.

"When we came back to the table, what they offered us, then and since, is tens of millions of dollars less than the AFTRA deal itself," Allen said. "It's obvious that they are trying to get us to bargain up to a deal they already know is unacceptable."

SAG declined to immediately provide details on the differences in the offers.

Months ago, the guild had vowed to gain a better contract than its sister union in areas such as residual payments for DVD appearances, mileage reimbursement and fees for Internet content.

Jesse Hiestand, a spokesman for the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, declined to comment on the bargaining position of studios.

"We are approaching the conclusion of the process," he said. "The bargaining continues."

SAG is urging the 70,000 members of AFTRA to vote against the tentative contract deal reached May 28 because its terms would handcuff ongoing negotiations between SAG and the studios.

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