American Actors Union Approves Contract with Hollywood Studios

Members of Hollywood actors unions approved a new three-year contract in a vote that was closely watched in Hollywood as an indication of whether the larger Screen Actors Guild will be able to continue pressing for a better deal in its own contentious labor talks with film and television producers.

Members of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists approved their new contract with a 62.4% majority. In recent weeks, the Aftra vote became something of a referendum on the actors' desire to continue negotiating for a better contract with the studios, as the two unions share about 44,000 members. SAG, currently embroiled in difficult talks with Hollywood studios, campaigned vigorously against the new Aftra deal as a means of demonstrating that its members are willing to aggressively pursue better terms in their own contract -- even on the heels of a crippling 100-day strike by screenwriters last winter.

Aftra members approved the new contract by a lower margin than in the past, when contracts were jointly negotiated with SAG. The lower approval margin is bound to be interpreted by some as a sign that SAG's leadership has significant support to continue pushing the studios for a better deal. Others will declare the vote is a rebuke of the rival union's leadership and a sign SAG might have to settle.

As a result, the SAG contract won't get resolved for some time. SAG hasn't yet called for a strike-authorization vote, despite the June 30 expiration of its contract. But its members possibly could be locked out by movie and TV producers if negotiations don't quickly progress.