Strike Disintegrating? Allen Wants to Put Off Vote

SAG's national executive director Doug Allen sent a message to his board members late Wednesday proposing that the strike authorization vote be put on hold as the studios' final offer be sent to the membership for a ratification vote, reports Variety. Though the idea was rejected by some members, Allen - who has been weakened by rising internal opposition to a strike - said he would continue to urge the board to to so."I also proposed that... we meet immediately with the AMPTP to determine to what extent, if any, they are willing to improve their last offer, to maximize its chances for ratification," he added in the letter. Anti-strike SAG board members regrouped yesterday after a 30-hour emergency meeting on Jan. 12 and 13, vowing to stop the strike authorization vote and replace SAG's negotiating committee. "This is not over by any means," New York board member Paul Christie told the trade. "It is astounding to me that Doug Allen's mantra... is that at the end of the day he is duty-bound to carry out the will of the majority of the national board."