Actors talks extended

Here's another case of why it's hazardous to predict the course of labor negotiations. Just when it appeared - at least from the outside - that the Screen Actors Guild and the media companies would end their contract talks today with no agreement in sight, along comes this morning's announcement that bargaining has been extended until next Tuesday. Variety's Dave McNary reports that SAG dropped its proposal to double DVD rates, what many considered to be a hopeless demand. The union is instead looking to raise the current rate, but through employer contributions to the pension and health plans. As part of the extension, AFTRA has agreed to hold off on the start of its talks with the majors.

The move to give the SAG talks more time appears designed to give negotiators another chance to launch the process of give-and-take bargaining that would lead to a deal. It comes two days after the majors went public with their frustration over SAG not having budged from its initial positions -- specifically its demands for doubling of DVD rates, hikes in basic pay rates and terms in new media that are better than what the DGA and WGA negotiated. SAG, in its only public statement about the talks, countered by disputing the AMPTP's assertions, accusing the majors of not negotiating in good faith and insisting it would not negotiate in the press. People close to the negotiations have insisted that, despite Wednesday's hostilities, the SAG talks have remained cordial and had covered a significant amount of ground.