Actor’s Strike Averted

The strike that has threatened to bring Hollywood to a standstill could be averted, thanks to an agreement between actors and studios. Although it seems that industrial action has been avoided, insiders warn that it could be months before Tinsel Town returns to normal. Three days intensive talks between the unions and studios has resulted in the new agreement, which is expected to include increases to actors' minimum wage, along with higher payments for repeats, syndication and other sales. According to Variety, the new agreement could include a 3.5% raise in minimum pay. The new agreement is expected to be confirmed by a vote of Screen Actor's Guild (SAG) and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) members over the next few weeks. "I have to say that I am slap-happy, with the emphasis on the happy," said president of the Screen Actors Guild, William Daniels. Both the SAG and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists will take a vote on the proposals next week, but Daniels denied that there would be a chance that the agreement would be rejected.