The executive director of the union no longer has the guts to strike but puts contract to a member

[RB TexLa]

vote. Doesn't look like they will either but maybe if the Allen clown is ousted they can.

SAG Leader, in Shift, No Longer Seeks Strike Authorization

By EDWARD WYATT
Published: January 16, 2009
LOS ANGELES — The executive director of the Screen Actors Guild has sent a letter to members of the union’s board proposing to put the latest contract offer from television and movie producers to a direct vote by the union rather than seek authorization for a strike.

The proposal reverses the position of the executive director, Doug Allen, on how to proceed in the union’s effort to reach a new contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents the major Hollywood studios.

The new approach is likely to face some opposition, however, among union members who have criticized Mr. Allen’s leadership. Some of those members say Mr. Allen’s hard-line stance in negotiations has left the union without a satisfactory proposal on which to vote.

Mr. Allen’s letter, dated Wednesday, came just one day after a group of board members sought to oust him as the union’s lead negotiator. Though that effort failed, it appears to have undercut the ability of the union leaders to gather sufficient support for a strike authorization, which would require the approval of 75 percent of the members voting.



http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/16/business/media/16sag.html?ref=media

[stray cat]

1. Is it a lack of guts or the presence of practical common sense and wisdom?

I don't know the answer but in this economy a failure to strike may not be a lack of guts.

[RB TexLa]

3. I was thinking of the rest of the North American people particularly the ignorant who even in

this economy hand money to them. A prolonged strike could save the North American people millions upon millions.

[lunatica]

2. strikes or not are always put to member vote

Unions aren't dictatorships. In unions the majority really does count. It certainly does in mine.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

4. This negotiation has been very difficult and there is a sizable number of members who do

not support the positions being taken. SAG is very fragmented