SAGWatch – Observing the Screen Actors Guild and AFTRA

And no, we’re not talking about the New Media provisions in the TV-Theatrical contracts.

The SAG Constitution has these provisions which sunset in April, 2010:

Article V, Section 1, subdivision J(2)(a):

(2.) (a) Video conference meetings shall end by 11:00 p.m. Eastern time. In person
meetings scheduled for one day only shall end by 11:00 p.m. of the location in
which the meeting is being held. In person meetings scheduled to span more
than one day shall be scheduled such that the meeting shall continue into the
evening on the first day of the meeting, and the meeting shall end by 5:00 p.m. of
the location in which the meeting is being held on the last day of the meeting. A
vote of two thirds of those present shall be required to extend the meeting by no
greater than one half hour increments beyond the limitations set forth in this
paragraph, except that no extensions beyond 5:00 p.m. on the last day of
multiple-day meetings shall be permitted.
(b) The foregoing provisions of this subdivision (2.) shall cease to be in effect after
April 23, 2010, and after that date the only operative provision of this section
shall be as follows:
Video conference meetings shall end by 11:00 p.m. Eastern time. In person
meetings shall end by 11:00 p.m. of the location in which the meeting is being
held. A vote of two thirds of those present shall be required to extend the
meeting by no greater than one half hour increments.

Article V, Section 1, subdivision J(5):

(5.) The presence of members which exercise one-third (1/3) of the votes of the Board
of Directors shall constitute a quorum, provided that at least two members of each
Division are in attendance. If fewer than two members of any Division are present,
but a quorum would otherwise exist, the Board of Directors may nonetheless take
action on any matter set forth with specificity on the agenda for the meeting, or with
respect to any matter on which debate or discussion began prior to the absence of
such a quorum, except a matter requiring a supermajority vote, as follows:
(a) The Board of Directors may debate and vote, and the motion and result of such
vote shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting, together with such detail of
the debate as may be practicable. Any vote taken pursuant to this paragraph must
be taken by roll call.
(b) If any motion made receives a majority of the votes cast in the meeting of the
Board of Directors, such motion and the record of the debate shall be referred
within three calendar days of the conclusion of the Board of Directors meeting
to the Division Board of Directors of any Division having cast fewer votes on
the motion at the meeting than all those to which the Division is entitled. The
Division Board of Directors may cause a vote to be taken among its members or
seated alternates of the Board of Directors, either by meeting or by written
assent. Any vote taken, whether in person, by electronic communication, or in
writing, must be taken by roll call, and only those Directors or their sitting
Alternates by whom or for whom a vote has not already been cast shall be
entitled to vote. By way of example, a Director who was replaced by an Alternate
at the meeting of the Board of Directors will not be entitled to cast or change the
prior vote. The Division Board of Directors shall not seek to amend the motion
as voted upon by the Board of Directors. For purposes of this section, such a
vote shall be deemed a national responsibility of the Division Board of Directors
in accordance with Article VI, Section 7 of this Constitution and By-Laws.
(c) Unless the motion passed by the Board of Directors provides for a longer period
for consideration, a Division Board of Directors voting in accordance with
paragraph (b.) of this subdivision shall report the results of its vote within
fourteen (14) calendar days of the referral of such a motion. Such results will be
added to the results of the vote taken at the meeting of the Board of Directors.
Once cumulated, the results of the vote will be determined and will be deemed to
be the action of the Board of Directors effective as of the date such votes are
reported by the Division Board of Directors.
(d) If a Division Board of Directors entitled to cast votes pursuant to paragraphs (b.)
and (c.) of this subdivision fails to report its votes within fourteen (14) calendar
days of the referral of such a motion, or such longer period as may be prescribed
in the motion of the Board of Directors, the result of the vote in the meeting of
the Board of Directors cumulated with the result of the votes of any Division
Board reporting within such period will be deemed to be the action of the Board
of Directors, effective as of a date fourteen (14) calendar days after the referral of
the motion, provided, however, that the National Executive Committee or the
Board of Directors may extend the deadline for reporting of votes upon a finding
of good cause.
(e) The provisions of this subdivision providing for action in the absence of a
quorum shall be inapplicable in the event that the lack of a quorum is the result
of force majeure. If an event of force majeure prevents a Division from acting in a
timely manner in accordance with subdivision (d.) of this section, the deadline
for action shall be tolled during the period of the force majeure incident and for a
reasonable period thereafter, as determined by the Board of Directors or
National Executive Committee.
(f) Nothing in this Section shall be construed so as to limit the authority of the
Board of Directors to act by written assent as provided by Section 4 of this
article.
(g) The foregoing provisions of this subdivision (5.) shall cease to be in effect after
April 23, 2010, and after that date the only operative provision of this section
shall be as follows:
The presence of members which exercise one-third (1/3) of
the votes of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.

Given recent events in governance, should we be concerned about these impending changes, which remove certain existing protections?