Celebrities backing SAG contract efforts

LOS ANGELES, May 30 (UPI) -- The Screen Actors Guild says the celebrities who support its call for passage of a tentative contract include U.S. actors Tom Hanks and George Clooney.

The labor union told The Hollywood Reporter Friday that Hanks and Clooney, along with fellow movie stars Sally Field and Alec Baldwin, have signed an online statement in support of the SAG proposal.

SAG members are to vote on the proposed TV-theatrical contract by June 9. Supporters have been using a barrage of videos and e-mails to convince members to ratify the agreement.

The proposed agreement with top studios includes a 6.5 percent wage increase, larger payments for major role performers and payments for media streamed on the Internet.

SAG officials created an online statement where members can sign using digital signatures .

Among the 500 members who expressed their support of the proposal were actors Rob Lowe and Ed Begley Jr., along with actresses Morgan Fairchild, Patricia Heaton, Jane Curtin and Melissa Gilbert.

The Reporter said among those opposing the deal's passage are actors Ed Harris, Elliott Gould and Martin Sheen.