SAG/AFTRA Union Strike Ends

October 23, 2000

A tentative agreement was reached October 22, 2000 between the SAG/AFTRA union and the advertising industry, signaling an end to Hollywood's longest strike ever which began May 1st.

The three-year pact between the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists is subject to a vote of the unions' boards and by the rank and file members. If the boards approve the contract at a meeting Saturday, actors could be back on the sets as early as next Monday.

The strike is the first major Hollywood walkout in 12 years. Some believe this is just the beginning for an even larger strike next year involving actors and writers that could shut down TV and movie production for months.

The actors will get an across-the-board boost in the pay scale for cable TV ads, as well as guaranteed fees for Internet ads.

                                                                 - Excerpted from News Wires

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Since May, AC Team members followed the strike which has affected hundreds of Asian actors. (See story below)

Strike signs ready for the next day.

Asian American Actors Pack Labor Strike Meeting To Discuss
Lack of Jobs and Union Demands

TV, Cable, Internet Commercials At Stake

August 18, 2000

LOS ANGELES - A 109 day-old labor strike and lack of roles for Asian American actors brought out one of the largest turn-outs ever at a union labor meeting sponsored by The Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG/AFTRA).

Actress wearing a yellow ribbon in support of the strike offers photos to Hollywood casting agent Eddie Foy III (Dick Clark and Jerry Lewis Comedy Casting).

     SAG/AFTRA is the entertainment industry's primary labor union for actors, announcers, singers and stunt performers with more then 135,000 members.

     Despite sweltering heat within the James Cagney room, SAG's strike center, Asian actors packed the auditorium for three hours to hear from their peers.

     SAG's latest statistics reveal a continued underrepresentation of Asian American Performers in the media. The discouraging report on the Asian American Performer, was the focal point of the panelists which included James Hong ("The Art of War"), Amy Hill (Comedy Central's "Strip Mall "), Garrett Wang ("Star Trek: Voyager"), writer Chris Young ("Slow Boat to China"), Peter Kwong ("The Golden Child"),

Peter Q Nguyen SAG Contract Campaign

Hollywood casting agents, and union representatives.

   Actor Garrett Wang said that he overcame his own family's objection to his choice of acting as a profession, by working hard at his acting skills and learning the entertainment business to become a professional actor. He cited one other person that he knew had also worked tirelessly at breaking into the field, fellow actor Lucy Liu.

Actors France Nuyen and James Hong

     James Hong, a veteran of more than 450 films including a character role as 'Ambassador Wu' in Warner Brothers "The Art of War," stood up from his chair to his fellow actors admiration and applause.

     Referring to negative stereotyping of Asians depicted in the media, "I had to take all those 'chinky' roles all these years, I came to Hollywood and have been in the actors union for more than 50 years with high hopes." He inspired and encouraged the audience, primarily comprised of young actors to go out and forge ahead in the industry.

James Hong ("Art of War") on his 50+ yrs in Hollywood

     Glenn Hiraoka, an 18 year SAG executive, currently in charge as executive administrator of the commercials contract department gave details on signing more than 1,800 contracts with production companies which have made interim agreements with SAG/AFTRA to operate during the strike covering union standards and benefits governing performers.

Glenn Hiraoka SAG executive administrator commercials contracts

     At odds are payment terms by advertisers on television and cable television, proper reporting of payment of residuals to actors, and the lack of recognition and jurisdiction over commercials made for the Internet.

                                                                                                                                                     - AC Team