SAG, AFTRA Will Bargain Jointly On Ad Contracts - The Hollywood Reporter

SAG, AFTRA together for ad contracts

By Leslie Simmons and Carl DiOrio

Aug 18, 2008, 08:46 PM ET

Leaders of SAG and AFTRA are finally on the same page.

Unfortunately, the newfound harmony comes not on the subject of SAG's long-stalled contract negotiations with Hollywood studios but rather the actors unions' next round of talks with advertising industry groups.

AFTRA leaders have told SAG president Alan Rosenberg that AFTRA would be willing to bargain jointly with SAG on their respective memberships' next commercials contracts.

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The current contracts covering SAG and AFTRA members on commercials work expire on Oct. 28. In 2006, the unions granted a two-year extension to current agreements with the Association of National Advertisers and the American Association of Advertising Agencies to allow time for a study on new-media compensation that was jointly commissioned with the ad groups.

"Despite our institutional differences — characterized grossly inaccurately and with great hostility by you in your letter — our offer to negotiate together stands," the SAG leaders wrote. "We await your response."

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Despite the allegations, the union is ready to sort out its problems with SAG, the AFTRA leaders said.

"In the interest of longer-term considerations, AFTRA is prepared to explore the remedial conditions necessary to make it possible for AFTRA to conduct joint bargaining for the commercials contract under Phase One with SAG," Reardon and Roberts Hedpeth said. "In order to have confidence that the unacceptable behavior and actions of SAG ceases — especially while the parties are attempting to prepare and develop a healthy and effective approach to negotiations — we are asking the AFL-CIO to resume the process."