Movies
The Screen Actors Guild has delayed a controversial strike vote that could bring Hollywood to a virtual stop if successful, reports the Los Angeles Times.
The industry's biggest union had been poised to send out the vote ballots on January 2, 2009 which could have put next year's Oscars ceremony in jeopardy.
However, in an email to the union's board members yesterday, SAG Executive Director Doug Allen revealed that the strike vote would be pushed back until January 14 at the earliest.
Earlier this month more than 130 Hollywood stars spoke out against the vote, which emphasised the deep split within the union's members as to whether a strike was necessary.
Stars including Tom Hanks, George Clooney and Charlize Theron publicly urged SAG to abandon the plans. However, the proposal has been supported by other A-listers, such as Mel Gibson, who believe that action is vital to ensure the future of actors.
SAG was hoping that a strike could improve their bargaining power with the Hollywood studios after negotiations for a new contract stalled in July.
"This division does not help our effort to get an agreement from the [studios] that our members will ratify," wrote Allen. "This will provide us with more time to conduct member education and outreach on the referendum before the balloting."
The guild needs 75% of members to support the vote when it is taken.
The industry's biggest union had been poised to send out the vote ballots on January 2, 2009 which could have put next year's Oscars ceremony in jeopardy.
However, in an email to the union's board members yesterday, SAG Executive Director Doug Allen revealed that the strike vote would be pushed back until January 14 at the earliest.
Earlier this month more than 130 Hollywood stars spoke out against the vote, which emphasised the deep split within the union's members as to whether a strike was necessary.
Stars including Tom Hanks, George Clooney and Charlize Theron publicly urged SAG to abandon the plans. However, the proposal has been supported by other A-listers, such as Mel Gibson, who believe that action is vital to ensure the future of actors.
SAG was hoping that a strike could improve their bargaining power with the Hollywood studios after negotiations for a new contract stalled in July.
"This division does not help our effort to get an agreement from the [studios] that our members will ratify," wrote Allen. "This will provide us with more time to conduct member education and outreach on the referendum before the balloting."
The guild needs 75% of members to support the vote when it is taken.
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