SAG Motion Rejected; Judge Won't Reinstate Leader
Alan Rosenberg
A Los Angeles judge has shut down an attempt to block talks between new Screen Actors Guild negotiators and major studios, which means — surprise — feuding within the group will go on.
SAG President Alan Rosenberg and three other plaintiffs filed a motion Tuesday challenging a vote by the guild's board of directors that ousted SAG executive director Doug Allen and created a new negotiating team.
Moderates within the union blamed Rosenberg and Allen for botching past negotiations, and had planned to try again with the new team Tuesday. But that plan was delayed by the legal maneuver.
Judge James Chalfant threw out the motion because of numerous errors in the lawsuit, but Rosenberg and the others can amend the complaint as early as Thursday.
Rosenberg and Allen hope to reclaim control of the union to push a vote on whether its leadership can call an actors' strike. They had hoped voting would be completed in January.
Members of SAG, which represents about 110,000 film and television actors, have been without a contract since their old contract expired on June 30. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents the studios, said at the time it had made its last, best offer.
Among the issues in dispute: how much actors should receive for work seen online.
Which SAG faction do you think will win? Those who want to negotiate, or those who want a strike vote?
