SAGWatch – Observing the Screen Actors Guild and AFTRA

The AMPTP met with mediator Juan Carlos Gonzalez today, and issued a brief, non committal statement:

The AMPTP met this afternoon with federal mediator Juan Carlos Gonzalez. During the meeting AMPTP presented details of the AMPTP’s Final Offer to SAG, along with background information on the major labor agreements that AMPTP has reached this year with WGA, DGA and AFTRA, which served as the basis for our Final Offer to SAG. The federal mediator indicated that he will advise the parties as to the next step in the process.  

 

The good news is that the producers apparently didn’t say “take it or leave it” – there’s a “next step in the process.” What we hear is that there are some AMPTP members who are less hard line than others, and that given the new leadership at SAG, there could even be a play to throw the union a bone.

The problem with all that is that the rest of the AMPTP remains totally over the Allens and Membership First, not interested in doing anything but watch them twist slowly in the wind, even if it means the rest of the union twists there with them. Then there’s the economy.

Stand by…

Update: Here’s Variety’s take.

McNary offers one little tidbit, pretty much consistent with what we’re hearing:

“Sources close to the studios said there are two key points for the congloms:

• The AMPTP’s willing to continue with the mediation process but won’t change the new-media framework it’s used for earlier deals with the DGA, WGA and AFTRA.

• Economic conditions have worsened in the four months since SAG received the final offer.

 ”