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After a three-day recess, SAG and AMPTP representatives returned to the bargaining tables to try and strike a deal before the SAG's feature-primetime deal expires on June 30th. The pressure is on the shoulders of the SAG ever since AFTRA was able to come to terms with a new deal. However, due to the animosity between AFTRA and SAG, it's unlikely that SAG leaders will accept a similar deal.

Despite the animosity between the unions and SAG's inability to nail down a deal, the leaders still have not taken the final step of seeking a strike authorization. According to Variety, "'SAG's in a tough spot,' notes Howard Fabrick of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, who's negotiated past deals with SAG. 'I feel like the tide is running against them with AFTRA having made their deal now. A lot of their working members in TV were hurt by the WGA strike, so the leadership may not be able to get the support that would be required in a strike authorization vote.'"

SAG national executive director Doug Allen and president Allen Rosenberg have yet to weigh in on the merits of the AFTRA deal and there are still seven key issues including DVD residuals, clip consent, new-media jurisdiction, and product integration in which there are still differences.

"So that leaves several other issues as the most likely areas in which companies might be able to concede enough for SAG leaders to be able to claim a significant advance and ask its members to endorse a deal:

• Middle-class actors. AFTRA scored a hike in the major role minimum for a half-hour show, now $4,080, to $4,321 effective July 1 and $4,606 by 2010; SAG might be able to make other gains.
• Clips consent. AFTRA was able to get the AMPTP to budge somewhat on the issue of clips distributed online, with actors retaining their consent rights at the time they're hired on a project, while the sides agreed to develop a mechanism for actor consent on library product; SAG may be able to hammer out more specific language.
• Force majeure. AFTRA didn't advance; SAG has claims against companies over how actors were compensated, or not compensated, for forced downtime during the WGA strike.
• New-media jurisdiction. AFTRA was able to include a provision that gives it jurisdiction when a performer is "covered," meaning that the thesp meets a requirement of having performed covered work previously. SAG's asking that it cover all new-media projects rather than accept the AMPTP's proposal that SAG accept the same budgetary thresholds as the DGA and the WGA.
• Product integration. AFTRA didn't advance; SAG's asking for language that gives thesps veto power over having to pitch products within features and TV series. It's possible that language could be worked out that would offer actors the ability to opt out of specific instances -- such as already having a deal to endorse a competing product."