Actors Unions OK Strike Option
Members of the two unions representing actors in commercials authorized their leaders to call a strike should negotiations break down with ad agencies over a new contract.
The vote by members of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists turns up the heat in negotiations, but doesn’t mean a strike is inevitable.
Three years ago, a similar authorization was given, although the unions never went on strike.
The contract between the unions and advertisers, represented by the Assn. of National Advertisers and the American Assn. of Advertising Agencies, expires Friday.
Actors have been pushing for a 20% raise in residuals--or the payments they get when a commercial runs--for broadcast ads. But the bigger issue involves increases in pay for cable TV spots and for ads airing in foreign markets or on Spanish-language television.
The unions said that 93% of the 40,956 actors voted to authorize a strike. Negotiations started Feb. 14.
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