ACTORS, AMPTP RETURN TO TALKS.Byline: Greg Hernandez Staff Writer The Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) is a performers' union that represents a wide variety of talent, including actors in radio and television, as well as radio and television announcers and newspersons, singers and recording artists (both royalty will resume contract negotiations with producers today after a breakdown in talks that lasted a week. A news blackout remains in effect so little is known about what the sticking points are in the actors' talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The actors' contract doesn't expire until June 30 but prolonged talks could force studios and television networks to begin stockpiling product to be prepared for a possible strike. SAG/AFTRA, as well as the Writers Guild of America The Writers Guild of America is a term often referring to the joint efforts of the Writers Guild of America, East and the Writers Guild of America, west. Jointly, the two guilds act as the collective bargaining representative, or labor union, for writers in the motion picture and , came perilously close to a strike before finally reaching a three-year agreement in 2001. The actors are currently working on a one-year extension of that agreement. Sister unions the Directors Guild of America and the Writers Guild of America negotiated three-year contract proposals with the AMPTP AMPTP Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers AMPTP Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers this past fall that have since been ratified by their respective memberships. The common issues among the three unions include revenue formulas for DVDs, jurisdiction in reality television, and health care benefits. While the DGA DGA Directors Guild of America (movie directors union) DGA Délégation Générale pour l'Armement (France) DGA Directeur-Grootaandeelhouder (Dutch: Managing Director and Major Shareholder) and WGA were successful in securing gains in health care contributions, they were unsuccessful in increasing highly sought DVD DVD: see digital versatile disc. DVD in full digital video disc or digital versatile disc Type of optical disc. The DVD represents the second generation of compact-disc (CD) technology. revenue, which had been set as a major priority. The DVD issue is not thought to be the major sticking point with the actors' negotiations. The SAG/AFTRA talks began Dec. 6 at the AMPTP headquarters in Encino. SAG President Melissa Gilbert heads the SAG delegation along with SAG's chief negotiator, Bob Pisano. AFTRA AFTRA American Federation of Television & Radio Artists President John Connolly heads his union's delegation with lead negotiator Greg Hessinger. The AMPTP is led by its president, Nicholas Counter. Greg Hernandez, (818) 713-3758 greg.hernandez(at)dailynews.com |
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