SAG rejects producers' 'final' offer

LOS ANGELES, July 10 (UPI) -- A group of Hollywood TV and film producers said the Screen Actors Guild declined to accept its final offer for a new contract Thursday.

"Today's meeting demonstrated that SAG's Membership First contingent unreasonably expects to obtain more in these negotiations than directors, writers and other actors obtained during their negotiations," the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers said in a statement Thursday.

AMPTP said its final offer included more than $250 million in additional compensation, important new media rights and protection for pension and health benefits.

"The refusal of SAG's Hollywood leadership to accept this offer is the latest in a series of actions by SAG leaders that, in our opinion, puts labor peace at risk," the producers said. "SAG's Hollywood leaders have already pursued a time-consuming, divisive, costly, and unsuccessful anti-(American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) campaign. Any further delay in reaching a reasonable and comprehensive agreement does a disservice to the thousands of working people of our industry who are already being seriously harmed by the ever worsening de facto strike."

AMPTP urged SAG's Hollywood leaders to put its final offer to SAG members for ratification.

"The last thing we need is a long, hot summer of labor strife that puts even more pressure on a badly struggling economy and deprives audiences of the entertainment they clearly desire in such difficult times," the producers said.