And then there's the actor negotiations: AFTRA's message to members

As if there wasn't enough drama already in the latest wave of labor negotiations, the tension between SAG and AFTRA over its upcoming negotiations with producers continues to simmer.

Leaders of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists distribbed a note to members on Thursday that says the guild is aiming to conduct joint primetime contract negotiations with Screen Actors Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, as it has since the early 1980s, but it can't be sure that joint talks will come to pass now that SAG has made some changes to its end of the so-called Phase One agreement that cemented the joint-bargaining approach for the two orgs.

As far as AFTRA's concerned, SAG's moves may well mean that the Phase One pact is history and that the two unions will go it alone next year with the AMPTP. AFTRA has more than 70,000 members; some 42,000 of them are also members of SAG.

(The changes that SAG made to the Phase One deal are way inside-baseball stuff but suffice it to say it's an effort to ensure that SAG has more clout in voting among the joint negotiating committee.)

AFTRA sez it is planning to meet with SAG officials later this month to hash things out. In the meantime, AFTRA leaders and the steering committee for the contract negotiations will begin meeting with members and finalizing its negotiations strategy in February. No word yet on what AFTRA hopes will be the timetable for its first meet with AMPTP.

Also, AFTRA has another contract negotiation looming much sooner -- the non-primetime portion of its contract, which covers a significant swath of AFTRA's biz: Early morning shows, daytime dramas, talk shows, musical and reality programming and latenight shows. In AFTRA-speak, it's "front of the book" contract terms that are separate from AFTRA's primetime deal. That contract was due to expire Nov. 15 but earlier this year, AFTRA and AMPTP agreed to extend the contract to Jan. 31 in recognition that the AMPTP might be preoccupied by its talks with the WGA in November.

As we all know, the timing is still complicated but AFTRA sez it expects to sit down with the majors on that contract by mid-January, though leaders caution that they'll have to "continue to monitor developments as they evolve -- with consideration of the writers and directors represented by our sister unions -- and assess the current schedule for the 'front of the book' TV Network Code negotiations accordingly."

Here's the entire message from AFTRA national prexy Roberta Reardon and national exec director Kim

Roberts Hedgpeth.

Dear AFTRA Member,

Yesterday, the AFTRA Primetime Steering Committee alerted you and other

AFTRA members that the formal Wages and Working Conditions ("W&W")
process for AFTRA's contract terms covering Network Primetime Dramatic
Programming will officially begin in February 2008. Formally known as "Exhibit
A to the AFTRA Network Code," these terms -- which expire June 30, 2008 --
cover dramas and sitcoms on Primetime Network TV, such as "Til Death"
and "Rules of Engagement" and Pay TV programs, such as "Curb Your
Enthusiasm" and "Flight of the Conchords". These terms also set base rates
and working conditions for AFTRA's basic cable contracts.

Although our traditional process has been to schedule and announce formal
W&W and negotiations jointly with the Screen Actors Guild, as you may be
aware, SAG has taken steps to end the "Phase One" Bargaining Agreement,
which was entered into by SAG and AFTRA in 1981 and under which the
terms of our separate, but identical, contracts have been negotiated since
that time.

AFTRA has nonetheless recommended to SAG that we work together in the
development of proposals, information sharing, and coordination of efforts for
the greater good of working performers throughout the industry. The staffs of
the two unions are scheduled to meet later this month to determine the best
way to proceed, should SAG wish to do so. In any event, our responsibility to
you and all AFTRA members requires that a schedule for formal W&W -- that
had been delayed while AFTRA waited to learn whether SAG wished to
continue the Phase One Agreement as it existed -- be commenced as soon as
possible.

Your AFTRA elected and staff leadership is also closely monitoring the
situation involving the strike by the Writers Guild of America, as well as
recent developments with the Directors Guild of America. As you may be
aware, out of respect for the anticipated schedule of WGA negotiations, the
AFTRA National Board in April 2007 extended the terms of the Network TV
Code "front of the book" -- which covers all programming other than network
primetime dramatic programs, such as daytime dramas, talk shows, variety,
reality, sports, and other formats -- from November 15, 2007, to January 31,
2008. Negotiations with the producers on the "front of the book" are
scheduled to begin in mid-January.

Given the increasingly difficult situation involving the current work stoppage,
your Network Code Negotiating Committee will continue to monitor
developments as they evolve -- with consideration of the writers and
directors represented by our sister unions -- and assess the current schedule
for the "front of the book" TV Network Code negotiations accordingly. We
take particular note that, like AFTRA, our sister union representing directors
had delayed its traditional bargaining schedule and its members, like ours and
all above and below-the-line union members throughout the industry, have
been deeply affected by this work stoppage.

We are encouraged by today's announcement by the Directors Guild of
America, and are hopeful that successful negotiations by our sister union will
serve to facilitate fair and equitable resolution of current and future
negotiations for all entertainment industry unions.

AFTRA recognizes that the issues affecting all talent in the entertainment and
media industries require good faith negotiations on the part of not just
unions, but a commitment to good faith bargaining on the part of employers in
reaching a fair agreement.

We have more in common with our sister unions than we have differences.
AFTRA members should rest assured that whether it is primetime or any other
day part, the primary goal and decision-making of your union will be governed
by a single priority: pursuing the best strategy that will secure strong and fair
contracts for you and all members -- actors, singers, dancers, announcers,
newspersons, sportscasters, hosts, and the thousands of AFTRA performers --
who make the business of television possible.

Please check the AFTRA website at www.aftra.com for updates on late-