SAG approves contract
The Screen Actors Guild (SAG), Hollywood's largest actors' union, finally approved a new two-year contract today, after going without for nearly a year. Division within the union had been severe, with the union president Alan Rosenberg campaigning vigorously against the pro-contract majority led by none other than Tom Hanks and George Clooney, who felt the contract was reasonable in these recession times. The vote was expected to be extremely close, but the contract in fact passed by a landslide 78% to 22%. Executive director David White (pro-contract) said that "members were ready to get back to work." The contract included a 3% pay raise, and for the first time provided residual pay to actors for work streamed on internet sites like Hulu. Rosenberg remains disappointed with the outcome but most seem happy for things to get back to normal.
See "SAG approves contract", Richard Verrier, Los Angeles Times, June 9, 2009