Hollywood :Actors Union and Studios resumed talks

The Screen Actors Guild and major studios have returned to the bargaining table on Wednesday from a three week recess in contract talks after Hollywood’s smaller performer’s union came to terms with producers on a new labor deal.The tentative accord between studios and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, or AFTRA, raised hopes yet again that labor peace in the world’s entertainment capital might yet prevail after a 100-day screen writers strike that ended in February.

AFTRA reached compromises on two issues viewed as major stumbling blocks by both unions-obtaining contract coverage for original made for internet shows and actors consent for the online display of TV clips in which they appear.

But it remained unclear whether AFTRA’s deal might form the basis of a settlement with the larger, more militant screen Actors Guild or whether SAG would see its bargaining position undercut by its sister union.

The two unions had negotiated their main TV contracts together for nearly three decades. But AFTRA decided to go it alone earlier this year after simmering tensions with SAG reached a boiling point.

The AFTRA deal, governing actors’ employment on about a dozen primetime TV shows, is still subject to approval by the Union’s governing board and a ratification vote by its 70,000 members.