SAG Has No Deal After 12 Days Of Talks

It appears that the SAG has been unable to reach a deal with the studios after 12 days of negotiations. We get the following update from the professionals at Variety:

In a development that will amp up strike fears, hopes for a SAG deal with the majors this week have nearly vanished. With a dozen days of negotiations in the book, progress remains negligible, although both sides have adhered to an unofficial news blackout with no public disclosure on the substance of talks on SAG’s feature-primetime deal.

SAG’s also sticking to its guns on a boost in DVD residuals, despite warnings by the AMPTP that it won’t give in — even if SAG goes on strike.

Should SAG decide to hold off on making a deal this week, that tactic would reflect the belief that the guild will achieve sweeter terms when it’s much closer to the June 30 expiration — and a possible strike. Going that route runs the risk of AFTRA signing a deal first and using that pact to sign new shows shot on digital, since both unions cover that area of jurisdiction.

Well, this doesn’t appear to be good from where I sit. AFTRA split from joint negotiations with SAG; and now SAG looks like it’s playing hardball by playing chicken with the strike deadline. The problem is, if AFTRA comes in and inks a deal, while SAG is spinning their thumbs; they will look foolish. Being second gives AFTRA a very good strategic advantage and I’m going to guess that the days of joint tag-team bargaining between these two unions will be a thing of the past.

I will disclose to you that I am not familiar with the particulars of this strike, and have no great desire to. It’s not my battle to fight; I just hope it gets resolved quickly – because another walkout isn’t going to be good for anybody.