HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - The Screen Actors Guild will make nice in 2003.þþUnion president Melissa Gilbert, in an end-of-the-year message to the 98,000 SAG members, has emphasized nonconfrontational, conciliatory approaches to key industry issues, along with smooth relations with other Hollywood guilds.þþ``My core goal is to run a boardroom focused on restoring standards that will gain the pride and satisfaction of members and ensure respect in the industry in which we work,'' Gilbert said. ``I continue to steer us away from hyperbole, rhetoric and posturing in the boardroom so that our thinking can be done in an atmosphere of open minds and open hearts.''þþGilbert, still best known for her childhood role on ``Little House on the Prairie,'' has adhered to a moderate course since winning convincing victories in bitter campaigns against Valerie Harper, first in November 2001 and then in a May rerun. Her ``Restore Respect'' ticket dominates the SAG boardroom.þþIn a telling comment, Gilbert issued a rhetoric-free recap of the outlook for upcoming negotiations of the commercials contract by saying, ``Negotiating fair wages and working conditions is the primary commitment of SAG.''þþHer approach contrasts sharply with the aggressive tack taken three years ago by union leaders, who prepped the membership extensively over perceived shortcoming in the contract, then voted 150-0 to strike and stayed out for six months. The current pact, which generates about $600 million in earnings for SAG members, expires Oct. 30.þþGilbert listed major issues as fighting runaway production to cheaper foreign locales, timely payment of residuals, improved relations with sister union the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, rising healthcare costs and the guild's beefed-up enforcement of its contract for foreign productions.þþBut she did not mention the current impasse with Hollywood talent agents, clearly the most divisive issue facing SAG.þþThe union lost oversight on most major agencies after its members voted down a revamp of its decades-old master franchise agreement last April, leading to agents offering SAG members representation pacts at less favorable terms. Gilbert and SAG CEO Bob Pisano advocated the deal, but members were swayed by arguments that the proposed easing of ownership restrictions for agencies would create unacceptable conflicts of interest.þþSAG's leaders have taken a go-slow approach to resolving the issue, with no negotiations scheduled with the Assn. of Talent Agents and the Natl. Assn. of Talent Representatives. Guild spokeswoman Ilyanne Kichaven said Gilbert did not include it in her message since there has been no change other than last month's previously announced appointment of members to the agent relations committee. þþþ
Source: NY Times
