Leaders of No. 2 union OK Hollywood labor contract

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Associated Press

By ROBERT JABLON

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Leaders of Hollywood's second-largest actors union approved a new contract with studios that grants actors more money for Internet work - an issue that sparked a crippling writers strike this year.

The board of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists approved the three-year deal late Friday, and it will go to the union's 70,000 members for ratification this month, the union said Saturday. The existing contract was set to end June 30.

The agreement "makes sense for all performers," AFTRA National President Roberta Reardon said in the statement. "AFTRA members now have the opportunity to vote 'yes' for higher pay, improved working conditions, and continued right of consent for use of excerpts in New Media."


In this April 22, 2008 file photo, "Curb Your Enthusiasm" star Larry David arrives at the Vanity Fair party for the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. Leaders of Hollywood's second-largest actors union approved a new contract with studios that grants actors more money for Internet work _ an issue that sparked a crippling writers strike this year. "Curb" is one of the shows affected by the agreement. (AP Photo/Peter Kramer, file)

The deal covers only a handful of prime-time TV shows, including HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm," the CBS drama "Rules of Engagement" and ABC's "Cashmere Mafia."


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20080608/D915STL80.html

[kimmylavin]

1. Yay!

Now let's get the SAG thing over with and avoid another strike, okay?