Overnight strike rumors rumble

Lightening strikes twice? D√©j√† vu all over again, as this awards season threatens to be cloudy replay of last year’s WGA strike, except with prettier picket lines. Mediators have failed to bring SAG and AMPTP closer together and negotiations broke down shortly after midnight last night. The Hollywood Reporter has the news, and none of it’s very good:

“We have already made difficult decisions and sacrifices in an attempt to reach agreement,” SAG said. “Now it’s time for SAG members to stand united and empower the national negotiating committee to bargain with the strength of a possible work stoppage behind them.”

Given the unhealthy economic climate, the AMPTP has insisted SAG is not going to get a deal superior to what the other major guilds negotiated this year, including the WGA, DGA and AFTRA.

“We remain committed to avoiding a strike but now more than ever we cannot allow our employers to experiment with our careers,” SAG said. “The WGA has already learned that the new media terms they agreed to with the AMPTP are not being honored. We cannot allow our employers to undermine the futures of our members and their families.”

SAG is rightfully wary of AMPTP, in light of recent arbitration filied against the AMPTP by the WGA, claiming the studios haven’t yet honored their promise to pay residuals on new media platforms as agreed upon in its newly renegotiated contracts.