[NEohioPAL] SAG National Board Majority

[DALE SHIELDS]

A Message to Members from the SAG National Board Majority

 Today
we took an important and necessary action to address the leadership
crisis at Screen Actors Guild. Representatives from SAG's National
Board majority delivered a "written assent" document to SAG
headquarters which authorized the following: Doug Allen is immediately
replaced as National Executive Director by former SAG General Counsel
David White, who will serve as interim NED; Guild Senior Advisor John
T. McGuire is appointed as Chief Negotiator of all SAG contracts; the
TV/Theatrical Contract Negotiating Committee is replaced by a Taskforce
which will complete negotiations on behalf of the Board of Directors.

 In a
meeting two weeks ago, a majority of the board sought to make the
crucial changes now contained in the written assent, but were derailed
by President Alan Rosenberg and a minority of board members through
endless parliamentary games and improper behavior. By filibustering for
over 28 straight hours, they prevented the Board from ever taking a
vote on the majority's proposal.

 
 This unprecedented level of obstruction has paralyzed the Guild.
 
 Written
assent is included in SAG's constitution to allow a majority of the
Board to take action outside the boardroom if necessary. While
extraordinary circumstances may require the use of written assent, we
do not believe it is a desirable way to conduct Guild business. In this
case, the unrelenting obstruction by a minority of board members has
left us no alternative.

 
 This
action has the support of all but one of the National Board members
from SAG'S New York and Regional Branch Divisions, and all in the
Hollywood Division except those affiliated with the group Membership
First. The signed written assent documents were delivered today to SAG
headquarters in Los Angeles.

 
 Upon
implementation of the approved motion, Interim National Executive
Director David White will assume control of all Guild operations and
will coordinate with Chief Negotiator John McGuire to contact the AMPTP
to undertake resolution of TV/Theatrical Contract negotiations, which
ground to a halt nearly seven months ago. The leaner TV/Theatrical
Taskforce will work alongside Mr. McGuire as the "eyes and ears of the
board," providing input and support as contract negotiations are
concluded.

 
 Beyond
the stalled TV/Theatrical negotiations, there is much work to be done
and SAG members can rest assured that we have secured an exemplary
leader in David White. A Rhodes Scholar, Mr. White has extensive
industry experience and was SAG's General Counsel from 2002 to 2006. He
knows the Guild and its co ntracts, and has the respect of our staff
and the entertainment community. Our Chief Negotiator, John McGuire, is
a 40-year SAG staff veteran who has negotiated over 30 contracts and is
held in enormous esteem throughout the industry and the labor movement.
We have complete confidence in his ability to deliver the best possible
contracts for our members.

 
 These
much needed changes will allow SAG to chart a new course.  We will work
to secure a TV/Theatrical Contract that can be sent to members with a
positive recommendation, and to effectively resolve all our outstanding
contracts, including the Commercials Contract.  We will also work to
rebuild vital relationships in the entertainment and labor communities,
and to reestablish Screen Actors Guild as a respected and powerful
institution, protecting and defending performers nationwide.

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 In its entirety, the written assent accomplishes the following:
 
- Removes Doug Allen as National Executive Director;
 
- Engages David White as interim National Executive Director;
 
- Names John McGuire as Chief Negotiator for all contracts, including the TV/Theatrical Contract currently in negotiation;
 
- Replaces the TV/Theatrical Negotiating Committee with a Taskforce, which will represent the Board of Directors;
 
-
Directs that only interim NED David White, John McGuire, or their
designee may communicate on behalf of Screen Actors Guild to other
organ izations, the general public, or the press;

 
-
Retains the law firm of Schwartz, Steinsapir, Dohrmann & Sommers
LLP to advise the National Board and represent the Guild in negotiation
of the terms of a written contract with David White;

 
- In
response to voting irregularities at the last Board meeting, instructs
SAG staff to develop and implement a fraud-proof security system to
regulate the use of the voting remotes used by Board members to cast
their votes.

 
*In the interest of compliance with the AFTRA-SAG
non-disparagement agreement under the AFL-CIO, Members of SAG's
National Board majority who are also AFTRA officers or board members
wish to officially record themselves as abstaining from this statement.


















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