SAG to Send Out Strike Authorization Ballots

BY carrie l. kaufman

The Screen Actors' Guild announced last week that it will send out ballots for a strike referendum on Jan. 2. Ballots will be counted Jan. 23. The announcement comes as producers, represented by the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) has taken their side public, advertising to actors to vote against the measure.

Many actors have said they are voting against it. Danny DeVito and Rhea Pearlman started an online No SAG Strike Petition, which currently has over 18,000 signatures.

"The economy is in shambles. A strike is will do nothing but hurt more than it will help. We are asking SAG to not seek a strike for the good of the industry, the audience, and the country as a whole," reads part of the petition.

Tom Hanks, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Russel Crowe and Juilianne Moore are among a host of celebrities who have also come out publicly against a strike.

But other stars, like Matthew Modine, Laura Dern and Eric Bogosian have come out in favor of passing the authorization referendum.

If the referendum passes, it does not mean SAG will automatically go on strike. It will just have the power to, should the AMPTP not give them what they want.