SAG: Strike ballots to be sent out Jan. 2

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- The U.S. Screen Actors Guild Wednesday announced strike authorization ballots will be mailed to members Jan. 2.

The results are to be tabulated on Jan. 23. A "yes" vote by 75 percent of members voting is required to pass the measure, which would authorize SAG's national board of directors to call a strike, if and when the board determines it is necessary, the guild said in a message on its Web site.

SAG and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers have not been able to hammer out a new contract since their previous one expired June 30.

"SAG members understand that their futures as professional actors are at stake and I believe that SAG members will evaluate the AMPTP's June 30 offer and vote to send us back to the table with the threat of a strike," SAG National President Alan Rosenberg said in a statement. "A 'yes' vote sends a strong message that we are serious about fending off rollbacks and getting what is fair for actors in new media. I am encouraged by the response of the capacity crowd at our Los Angeles town hall meeting Monday night."

"It's now official: SAG members are going to be asked to bail out a failed negotiating strategy by going on strike during one of the worst economic crises in history," AMPTP said in its own statement Wednesday. "We hope that working actors will study our contract offer carefully and come to the conclusion that no strike can solve the problems that have been created by SAG's own failed negotiation strategy."