Press Releases
LOS ANGELES (July 30, 2005) --- The national board of Screen Actors Guild (SAG) today ratified a new three-year TV animation contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) that runs retroactively from July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2008.
Read MoreLos Angeles (July 28, 2005) – Screen Actors Guild (SAG) members voted today by a margin of 81.2 percent to 18.8 percent to overwhelmingly approve the proposed Interactive Media Agreement recently negotiated with video game producers. In accordance with a national board decision on June 29, the referendum was sent to Screen Actors Guild performers with earnings under the previous three-year agreement with the video game industry—as well as any eligible, paid-up SAG member in good standing who requested a ballot.
Read MoreLOS ANGELES (July 27, 2005) --- Delegates at the AFL-CIO national convention in Chicago today re-elected Screen Actors Guild (SAG) President Melissa Gilbert to the federation’s executive council. As an executive council member for the past four years, Gilbert has fought for issues that affect SAG and the Associated Actors and Artistes of America (4A’s) and has represented other entertainment unions’ concerns in labor negotiations and policy.
Read MoreLos Angeles (July 27, 2005) --- It has come to the attention of Screen Actors Guild that Porchlight Entertainment, the producer of the animated television series Tutenstein (which airs on NBC), is not signed to an agreement with SAG covering the terms and conditions for voice actors employed on the series.
SAG members are advised not to accept any employment on this animated series until they have confirmed with SAG that the producer’s signatory status has changed. Employment on Tutenstein will currently subject a SAG member to a Rule One Violation.
Read MoreLos Angeles (July 26, 2005) – Fifteen years after the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law, Screen Actors Guild (SAG) released the executive summary of a first-of-its-kind study Tuesday that reveals performers with disabilities (PWDs) are significantly underrepresented in the entertainment industry and often reluctant to ask producers for even the most minor accommodations.
Read MoreLos Angeles (July 21, 2005) --- It’s down to the wire, and SAG needs its members help.
The U.S. House of Representatives will vote on the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA)—the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement—by July 28.
Read MoreSubmissions for the 12th Annual SAG Awards® Nominations Open on July 18, 2005
Read MoreSubmissions for the 12th Annual SAG Awards® Nominations Open on July 18, 2005
The SAG National Board has voted to send ballots to approve or reject the proposed 2005 Interactive Media Agreement to those members who work under this Agreement, as well as any member in good standing who requests a ballot.
Members who have reported earnings under this contract will be automatically mailed a ballot on July 13, 2005. Replacement ballots may be obtained by calling SAG’s Membership department at (323) 549-6778. The deadline for members who work in the video game industry to request replacement ballots is 12 p.m. PDT on July 25, 2005.
Read MoreSAG National Board to Consider Proposed Contract Later This Month; SAG Animation Negotiating Committee to Hold Caucus Meeting July 12
(Los Angeles, July 7, 2005) – Screen Actors Guild (SAG) announced today that a tentative agreement has been reached with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) on a new three-year contract covering television animation productions.
Read MoreLos Angeles (July 7, 2005) -- Screen Actors Guild President Melissa Gilbert and National Executive Director/CEO Greg Hessinger today issued the following statement:
“The members and staff of Screen Actors Guild extend our thoughts and deepest condolences today to our colleagues at Equity in London and to all the people of Great Britain. These deplorable acts of terror are attacks against us all. As both performers and citizens of the world, we stand in solidarity with our friends and colleagues and condemn this unconscionable violence against innocent people.”
Los Angeles (June 23, 2005) – Screen Actors Guild (SAG) announced today that SAG President Melissa Gilbert and National Executive Director/CEO Greg Hessinger will convene a special meeting of the national board on Wednesday, June 29, to consider the tentative Interactive Media Agreement with video game companies that was rejected this past Tuesday by SAG’s National Executive Committee.
Read MoreAll paid-up SAG members who work under the Television Animation Agreement are urged to attend this important meeting.
NO STRIKE AUTHORIZATION VOTE WILL BE TAKEN AT THE MEETING. Instead, the SAG National Executive Committee has voted to mail out ballots, if necessary, to those members who work under the contract.
Even though no strike authorization vote will be taken, votes on the pending contract proposals will be taken, and member participation is vital to the future of the Television Animation Contract.
Read MoreLos Angeles (June 21, 2005) --- The National Executive Committee of Screen Actors Guild (SAG) today voted to formally reject a new Interactive Media contract negotiated with video game companies. SAG’s current three-year Interactive contract expired on May 13, 2005. SAG’s National Executive Committee had been designated by the Guild national board to consider the tentative agreement, which was reached on June 8.
Read MorePerformers and Producers Avert Work Stoppage on Eve of Strike Vote Tally; Unions’ Focus Now Moves to Stepped-Up Organizing Efforts
Read MoreLos Angeles (April 15, 2005)---Representatives of Screen Actors Guild (SAG), the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and a group of video game publishers have agreed to extend the current interactive agreements to May 13, 2005. Discussions on successor interactive agreements are continuing.
A press blackout remains in effect.
About SAG
Read More75 Percent Vote Required by SAG, 66.7 Percent by AFTRA to Trigger Work Stoppage Over Profit-Sharing Issue
Ballots Must Be Received No Later Than June 7
Los Angeles (May 24, 2005) – Referendum materials for a possible work stoppage against video game companies were mailed today to approximately 1,900 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and 1,000 American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) members who have earnings under union contracts governing the video game industry.
Read More
May 18, 2005
Photos, clockwise:
SAG and AFTRA members hold signs in support of fair and equitable Interactive contracts at the E3 Game Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Actor Michael Bell, the voice behind such best-selling games as Metal Gear Solid 3 and Doom, speaks to the crowd about the value of the professional actor to the gaming industry; nine out of the top ten games of 2004 used union performers.
Read MoreLOS ANGELES and NEW YORK CITY (May 16, 2005) -- Actors' Equity Association (Actors' Equity), the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG) today announced an unprecedented joint health care survey of their members nationwide.
Read MoreVideo Game Producers Fail to Address SAG, AFTRA Demands for Profit-Sharing, Rejecting Even Modest Union Proposals
Los Angeles (May 13, 2005) – Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) announced today that talks with video game producers for new Interactive Media Agreements have broken off, as the final proposal presented by the companies again failed to address the fundamental issue of profit-sharing.
Read MoreSolidarity Among Members Strengthens Protections for SAG Performers Worldwide
Read MoreLOS ANGELES (May 10, 2005) --- Screen Actors Guild is saddened by the loss of Herb Sargent, president of the Writers Guild of America, East. SAG extends its heartfelt sympathy to his family and to his colleagues.
LOS ANGELES (Sunday, May 8, 2005) – Screen Actors Guild (SAG) joins with the entire labor community in mourning the loss of Miguel Contreras, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. Upon the news of his passing, SAG President Melissa Gilbert issued the following statement:
Read More
Los Angeles (May 6, 2005) -- All paid-up SAG and AFTRA members who work under the Interactive Media Agreements are urged to attend one of these important contract meetings.
SAG and AFTRA have been jointly negotiating with a group of video game publishers on Interactive Media Agreements. Representatives from the unions and management agreed to extend the current Interactive Media Agreements through May 13, 2005.
Read More