AFTRA, in blow to SAG leaders, approves contract

Members of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists on Tuesday approved a new three-year prime-time TV contract, dealing a blow to SAG leaders who had gambled heavily on defeating a contract they blasted as bad for actors.

The vote -- widely viewed as a barometer of support for SAG negotiators -- doesn't eliminate the prospect of a strike, but it leaves the guild with fewer alternatives. The protracted negotiations are causing widespread uncertainty throughout Hollywood, holding up feature film productions and casting a pall over the upcoming fall TV season.

"It's hard to not see this as a setback because they invested so much in this and drew a line in the sand," said David Smith, a labor economist at Pepperdine University. "It's probably going to limit their ability to negotiate for what they want."

SAG leaders could still seek a strike authorization vote from members, but that option is considered risky given the deteriorating economy and strike fatigue after the 100-day writers walkout that ended in February.

"The town has been fairly terrorized this year and actors don't have more guts than the average person," former SAG President Ed Asner said during a meeting with TV critics on Tuesday. "They realize the tremendous cost. Probably, if push came to shove, most would vote against it. I myself would vote for it, but I would be in the minority as I usually am."

Not surprisingly, the clashing unions interpreted the vote by AFTRA members differently.

SAG declared a moral victory, noting that the 62.4% ratification vote was below the norm, given that labor contracts are typically approved by more than 90% of voting members. SAG also argued that results were skewed by the non-actors who voted, citing an AFTRA flier that urged broadcasters to endorse the contract even "if you haven't worked under this contract."

AFTRA leaders countered that broadcasters account for less than 10% of the union's 70,000 members, 52,000 of whom are actors. AFTRA did not report how many of its members voted. SAG, which unlike AFTRA also represents film actors, has 120,000 members.