SAG's Membership First Statement To Actors: "We Have Not Lost Our Resolve"

26 Comments »

1. Well, the expansion of background zones is how Members First initially weaseled their way in to power, isn’t it? Good to see you’re shoring *that* up.

   And, residuals for Pre-1974 DVD releases to New Media…awesome. Way to propose something that will benefit nobody. Oh, sorry; it’ll benefit Martin Landau. Here’s a thought; negotiate for the *whole* digital pipeline for *new* content that’s being produced.

   Comment by Dave — February 10, 2009 @ 10:19 am

2. GOOD LORD JUST GET ON WITH IT! How bout you guys just get on with the negotiations and at least try to get the ball rolling.

   Comment by OMG — February 10, 2009 @ 10:24 am

3. Please spend less time on this S&^%$T and get the job done you look like jerks

   and this is how they break unions or are you to stupid to know that

   Comment by GAW — February 10, 2009 @ 10:28 am

4. Yes. Let’s protect the future. It’s not just for our own survival it’s our obligation.

   Comment by zackery — February 10, 2009 @ 10:36 am

5. SAG & IATSE should join forces. SAG members, take a look at the guilds that are part of IATSE that will be effected by our miserable contract at 400hours.com.

   The industry would, literally, shut down. Nothing could be shot, or cut, or mixed; No costumes, sets or makeup. No labs to process dailies or accountants to keep the books and pass out the paychecks.

   I’d say, we’d finally have our common enemy by the balls. It would be nice to be able to squeeze theirs once in a while.

   As America’s founding fathers so wisely said, ‘Unite or die’. Remember, they are trying to break us all and will if we don’t all stand together.

   Your thoughts?

   Comment by bboti — February 10, 2009 @ 10:41 am

6. give it a rest- the game’s over- get your shit together in three years and strike with all the unions- you’re done this year

   Comment by Sternboy — February 10, 2009 @ 10:42 am

7. Let’s face it, it needs to be pointed out in advance that what is going to go down is a political pay-off in exchange for UFS muscling out the former leadership of SAG - you know, the one that was fighting for a fair deal for actors going into new media, and receiving overwhelming votes of support from the national board, all the while that same board was full of NY/RBD/USAN/UFS members actively undermining the only tool with any hope of obtaining a fair deal: an SAV or, if the AMPTP FORCED it - a strike. UFS wants to get a bone thrown its way - probably Force Majeure, maybe just Taft-Hatley, then walk out, declare “WE DID IT!” and try to sell that turd to the membership, having left the middle-class actors ability to make a living on the table, along with their balls. Does anyone think the AMPTP has been holding out this long, to then give SAG full jurisdiction from dollar one and a fair residual package in new media - to turn around and give it to SAG just because Doug Allen is replaced by John McGuire with some of these UFS clowns sitting behind him? These are people, UFS/NY/RBD/USAN actively promoting the destruction of SAG! That IS the practical result of any merger with AFTRA - their true goal. They don’t give a damn about this contract or the middle-class actor - they want control of the union and merger with AFTRA to result in a compliant, submissive union, where “the rabble” doesn’t have to power of the vote SAG members now have. They want “qualified voting” so THEY can tell US what to do. They’ll tell you different, but that’s how UFS FORMED - over “qualified voting.” They are sick and tired of this whole “democracy thing.” The answer, for middle-class actors who want a fair deal and a future with reasonable prospects of making a decent living, is to get rid of these people and this philosophy - merge with AFTRA - once and for all. ALL ACTORS UNDER ONE ROOF - SAG. Do you think actors WANT to work for less money, less residuals NOW? That’s called AFTRA. Do you think actors want to work for FAR less money and NO residuals in a couple years? That’s called merger. OR, do you think actors want a fair deal, with residuals tied to producers profits, and full jurisdiction from dollar one? THAT’S called Membership First, led by Alan Rosenberg. If we could UNIFY behind that, and be willing to do what it takes, we’d at least have a SHOT at a fair deal. UFS just wants to lay down.

   Comment by Matt Mulhern — February 10, 2009 @ 11:10 am

8. As Doug Allen wrote:

   “Instead of $3,300 for one network re-run, the AMPTP offer is for $23 for six months re-use of a network episode on new media (for 24 hours per day, after at least 17 days of use with no compensation). No less a source than FOX COO Peter Chernin has declared that Hulu (the new media channel co-owned by Fox and NBC) is a “replacement for re-runs.”

   “The AMPTP also wants to eliminate the 70 year old force majeure protection for actors, produce original programming for new media on a non-union basis with the blessing of the union, or, even if such programming is produced union, with no minimum scale and no residuals for re-use on new media, ever.”

   Comment by Allison — February 10, 2009 @ 11:18 am

9. Memo
   From: Everyone else on the planet
   To: Membership First

   It’s time to shut up. You are destroying SAG. The entire SAG public discourse has been a comedy of errors until recently. Now, it is a tragedy. You can NOT sue your own guild and use the word UNITY in the same breath. The question the world is asking you, is what are you fighting for? It certainly isn’t a deal with the AMPTP because you’re not speaking productively with your guild’s negotiating committee. You’re suing them. So, are you fighting for control of the guild? Are you fighting to bring down UFS? Are you just bitter? We only ask these questions because SAG does not currently have a deal with the AMPTP. And it seems to us, as a party in support of your union, your mission should be to protect your membership by having a deal in place. Speak with your votes not with public letters. And get a deal signed with the AMPTP before you lose jurisdiction over movies like you have television and the internet.

   Best,

   Everyone else on the planet

   Comment by Everyone else on the planet — February 10, 2009 @ 11:43 am

10. Shit or get off the pot, guys. Sorry to be crude, but really.

    Comment by Jack Burton — February 10, 2009 @ 11:57 am

11. Dear Everyone Else On The Planet,

    UFS already destroyed SAG. Some of us get it, some of you don’t.

    Sincerely,

    The Other Guy On The Planet (The one with a brain)

    Comment by The other guy on the planet — February 10, 2009 @ 12:02 pm

12. This is the end of SAG as we know it. It won’t be long before qualified voting comes to pass, more members are disenfranchised and eventually SAG is just a union in name only. I’m sure Amy Brenneman enjoys cashing her “Judging Amy” residuals. What does she have to say to the SAG member who relied heavily on his or her residual check to pay the bills and will now have to go fuck themselves with their $23 unlimited internet use residual?

    Comment by Hank Yablonski — February 10, 2009 @ 12:03 pm

13. Don’t forget that Amy was also the executive producer on Judging Amy.

    Comment by Yosemite — February 10, 2009 @ 12:35 pm

14. There we have it. This crap will continue and we will all be screwed. We are forever caught in our internal battle of egos, pride and lunacy.

    It’s always THEIR fault. The other party is destroying the guild. The other party is stupid. The other party has no idea what reality is.

    I think I’m done reading and posting. This crap will never end and we are all hopelessly screwed. I have asked and asked if ANYONE can put their egos aside and call for TRUE UNITY. Not one taker.

    So I’ll leave you all to your bitter tirades and us vs. us mentality. We are totally screwed. I don’t know why I’m surprised after 10 years of this.

    To the rest of the industry, I sincerely apologize for the idiocy and short sightedness of my fellow SAG members.

    United we stand, divided we fall… and man are we falling. Goodnight and good luck everyone. You’re going to need it.

    Comment by Limbo Forever — February 10, 2009 @ 1:07 pm

15. Fuck the press releases, SAG. Just sign a fucking deal already!

    Comment by Mahogany — February 10, 2009 @ 1:43 pm

16. Yada yada yada.

    Fine. Let the MF blowhards play “bad cop” while the “good cops” go in to get a deal. Maybe it’ll help because McGuire can say, “You need to give us something that will get ratified.”

    But the AMPTP will never give in on the New Media points mentioned in this letter. That’s just fantasy.

    Comment by Get A Life — February 10, 2009 @ 1:50 pm

17. Thanks to all the DOUCHEBAGS who voted for anyone in UFS. You’ve officially fucked us all due to your lack of intelligence. Way to flush a 75 year old union down the toilet. Thanks also to all the DOUCHEBAGS who voted “yes” on the AFTRA contract. You fueled an already burning fire. Thanks once more to all the DOUCHEBAGS who weren’t a part of the AFTRA vote but were strongly warned as to what was going down and shouuld have urged your AFTRA friends to vote “no”. Due to your own lack of concern or the fact that all you care about is TODAY, you have compounded a gaping sore into an inoperable tumor that just keeps growing. Nothing like a world full of ill-educated DOUCHEBAG actors who probably have no more than a high school diploma to screw it all up for the rest of us who actually give a damn about our union and future. You guys SUCK!!!!!

    Comment by Fuck you — February 10, 2009 @ 1:52 pm

18. You chumps who say you speak for everyone else should be quiet.

    VOte down this stupid deal, vote out these traitorous wretches of Unite for S> Membership first is the only option . This ain’t over because the new deal won’t have the votes. So Everyone else in the world is a nag of hot air

    Comment by The WHole WOrld — February 10, 2009 @ 2:19 pm

19. MembershipFirst talks about loyalty. MembershipFirst talks about unity. Here they are declaring that “MembershipFirst has little faith that the majority of the newly formed TV/Theatrical Task Force will have the experience, knowledge or determination to bring back a deal that can be endorsed by an overwhelming majority of the national board”. Where’s the loyalty? Where’s the unity? These are the leaders of THEIR union. They remind one of the Bush years, whereby he really only concerned himself with they people that voted for him not the country as a whole. And of course there will be no “overwhelming majority” of the national board, because again, like the Republican House, they’ll vote unanimously against whatever deal their Union comes up with. How does that taste, David Clennon, to have the people you associate with acting just like the politicians you abhor?

    Comment by Scott — February 10, 2009 @ 5:07 pm

20. Hey fuck you…

    You Membership First idiots are the most bitter people on Planet Earth, thanks for showing the world that.

    Comment by UFS forever — February 10, 2009 @ 6:17 pm

21. I hate these sons of bitches with a passion
    they are totally misrepresenting the working actor community. They’re whipping up non working and retired actors into a frenzy to fight windmills for imaginary gains because it lets them feel like they’re part of the business. pathetic.

    All working sag hates MF and wants a deal.

    if you don’t know that already then you’re not actively in the business. If you are its all you hear.
    Fact.
    Rosenberg is a failure in many many ways, and he’s seriously harming others and the industry because he never got the attention he so desperately wanted.
    Actual working actors that do this for a living want the deal now.
    And don’t give me that “middle class actor” BS.
    Wake up folks. There is no such thing as a middle class actor. This is a feast or famine business.
    Working members, from bottom to top, want the deal.
    There’s no new media to worry about growing in the next few years when there’s no product thanks to the stalemate. We want to get to work now, and this will create opportunities for other sag members to try and get careers.

    Comment by realSAGwantsdeal — February 10, 2009 @ 6:32 pm

22. To the comment by “F*#@ You” above. How articulate. I was siding with the “DB’s” at U4S but your stirring and powerful words have won me over. How could I have been so stupid as to believe that we could have discourse with dignity and a spirit of unity, a word that is clearly not a part of your line of thinking. Thanks for setting me straight on this.

    Comment by Lenny the Pug — February 10, 2009 @ 7:35 pm

23. IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM JOHN CYGAN:
    The Elephant in the Room

    Here is an unbiased observation by a Working Class actor, NOT associated with any groups.
    He is a member of Screen Actors Guild.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkmKbRSfTlI

    Comment by that's it folks! — February 10, 2009 @ 11:23 pm

24. everybody’s weighing in So I guess I will to. The so called moderate are a bunch of retards. This little coup in Sag Has the amptp laughing their asses off. It shows how scared people are of a strike and puts us the worst bargaining position we had ever. one questions what do you think going to happen when the task force comes back to the table.the producers will offer the same lousy contract and if we refuse they won’t back down because they know how scared people are. Thanks You guys probably made sag, aftra part 2.

    Comment by sagactor — February 11, 2009 @ 12:28 am

25. Anybody who thinks this new Task Farce is gonna bring you anything better than the already PRE-ARRANGED AFTRA deal is as dumb as dirt.

    You got a Pisano hand holding new NED that’s gonna do the AMPTP’s business, try and sell you a bad Merger that will eliminate Screen Actors Guild FOREVER, and destroy the Background Community by resurrecting the already defeated 40 Non Union voucher plan that will flood the Union. A plan he worked SO HARD to enact when he was SAG legal and Mr. Pisano’s right hand man.

    THEN you got an old shriveled up “get you nothing in contract negotiations” new head negotiator that, in the past, has gotten the Members NOTHING except small talk and idle promises (for example the 1997 contract negotiations that he told us that we got the promise of open books so that we can check the numbers and have numbers agreed upon by both sides for the 2000 negotiations. The only problem, he didn’t get it in the written deal and later it was not enacted)

    Then, in the room, we have the NY President who is nothing more than a pineta with his sawdust filled head turning bright red at any comment he doesn’t agree with, looking like a radish with fluffy hair. There’s a rocket scientist if I ever saw one. We’re lucky if he even finds the actual location the negotiations are taking place at! Rumor has it, he’s been spending the last week working on the Math problem at THE WRAP website so he can eventually post there.

    Then we got that wonderful, sweet disposition Ex President. The one who has been running this whole dog & pony show while sitting on his thrown. You know the one, sporting that misplaced eyebrow he calls a moustache. Rumor has it, he married back into the SAG politics after leaving LA with his tail between his legs years earlier leaving behind a fixed National Executive Committee election leaving staff members to take the blame. He is on one REVENGE bender and will sell out the SAG Members just to get even with MF.

    Boy, oh, boy…..

    SAG is done for!

    THESE are OUR leaders in two negotiations!!!!!

    We are all better off having chimps from the zoo negotiating for us. At least their loyalty will be to US!!!!

    Comment by Masur Buster — February 11, 2009 @ 12:38 am

26. How many of you posters here have actually done anything to bolster the good of the SAG membership.How many of you have actually been to all the meetings SAG has offered to inform the membership to keep us to date. How many of you have gone and walked the picket with Scott Wilson? Sag’s most recent recipient of the Ralph Morgan Award, in front of the Hollywood SAG headquarters. A true activist for the Middle Calss Actor. He down’t have to be out there every day. But, He is nad it just sickens me to sit here and read some of the things I read from in most case’s are post from people that won’t get of their dead asses and fight for what is their futures in this buisness. I personally have been out to that picket and smal band of Union brothers and sisters that are standing up for what is right. If you are a poster here and are moaning and bitching about what is not happening or what is happening.
    Some of you are going to complain one way or another. FOr those individuals, you have no clue.
    If you want to make a difference, show up at the rally at AMPTP headquarters next week where Scott Wilson and the 60 to 8o SAG members that have been picketing in front of our own union for what we know is right and just for all members of the Screen Actors Guild, will be gathering with the over two hundred idustry professionals that were protesting at SAG headquarters on the ninth of this month. Industry professionals in all disciplines of the industry, cinematographers, grips, Stunt players, make up artist etc. etc.
    Our Middle Class Actor activist Scott Wilson is orchestrating with those other Union members of different professions to meet at the AMPTP headquarters on the 17th and 18th which is next week. So put up or shut up. If your in Los Angeles and are a participant in that rally, then you have no valid reason to sit here like spoiled children and demean the members that are out there on the front lines fighting for you and the entire membership. Go to the
    SAGWatchDog site for the details of where and when.
    Be there or be square.
    If you are not being active in the process then you are not seriously pursuing the craft of Acting. It takes more than a SAG Card and a Vote to make a Union Strong and united.
    This is our future!
    The AMPTP is wanting it too be our final curtain.

    “The Screen Actors Guild is only as Strong as a informed, engaged membership, allows us to be.” quote, Alan Rosenberg, President of the Screen Actors Guild.

    Comment by Too the Lost Sheep... — February 11, 2009 @ 9:03 am

RSS feed for comments on this post.

Leave a comment