SAG REJECTS AMPTP to regroup and meet again before weekend

Producers: SAG's Rejection of Final Offer "Puts Labor Peace at Risk"

SAG's time to mull things over came and went Thursday, following a four-hour meeting at AMPTP HQ. The afternoon pow-wow was held at SAG's request, to respond to the majors' "last, best" offer presented June 30, in the face of the union's contract expiration.

Yet once the meeting broke, the AMPTP went off to caucus what sounds like must have been a counter offer from SAG prez Alan Rosenberg. In a statement, SAG said committee members will regroup Friday morning to discuss the AMPTP's response.

The studios and producers, meanwhile, were a bit more blunt in their reaction, saying, "Today's meeting demonstrated that [SAG] unreasonably expects to obtain more in these negotiations than directors, writers and [AFTRA actors] obtained during their negotiations. The refusal of... this offer is the latest in a series of actions by SAG leaders that, in our opinion, puts labor peace at risk."

As all the mutual ruminating and responses continue, the pressure to get things nailed down and let work go on as usual is increasing. Will each side be willing to accede, even just a little? Friday might reveal the answer — though some of us are not holding our breath. — Anna Dimond

TV Guide