Hollywood?s largest union, the Screen Actors Guild, will begin the process of strike authorization with the distribution of ballots over the next two weeks. If 75% of members vote to authorize a strike, the SAG could stage a second walk-out as soon as January 2009, with the potential to seriously disrupt an already shaky economy. Tuesday, a moderate group titled Unite for Strength circulated an email to its 2,000-odd supporters urging them to carefully consider before voting to authorize a strike. The actors are concerned that every possible alternative has not been explored, which they believe is crucial to do, especially considering the current economic environment. SAG President Alan Rosenberg disagrees, saying that the union has made every possible effort and the studios have remained immovable.
See "SAG faction urges caution in strike vote", Richard Verrier, Los Angeles Times, December 2, 2008