SAG Chief at Center of Board Dispute

A bitter split among members of the Screen Actors Guild’s board has put the union’s top manager in jeopardy.

The potential firing of Chief Executive A. Robert Pisano is expected to be discussed today at a board meeting in Los Angeles, directors said.

Unclear is whether Pisano’s opponents have the votes to dismiss him. Veteran Hollywood litigator Bert Fields, who represents Pisano, said directors appeared sharply split. With three years left on his contract, Pisano would be owed about $1 million if he was forced out.

Pisano’s status is part of a larger struggle for control of the 120,000-member union. One side, led by SAG President Melissa Gilbert, supports Pisano, arguing that he has bolstered the union’s finances. A dissident group including former President William Daniels argues that Pisano has a conflict of interest in negotiating DVD residuals for actors because he sits on the board of online DVD rental company Netflix Inc.

Fields said SAG had repeatedly received legal opinions determining that Pisano has no conflict, in part because SAG contract talks are overseen by a negotiating committee. He added that SAG directors had always known of his Netflix role.

Pisano’s opponents also criticize him for supporting a merger attempt with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

The dissident group’s representatives declined to comment.