SAG, AMPTP set date for new talks

February 10, 2009 Next week's sessions won't involve SAG's former chief negotiator and national executive director Doug Allen, who had been at the helm of guild contract activity until he was forcibly removed from his posts by a majority of the national board last month. New chief negotiator John McGuire and interim NED David White will be in charge of the guild's negotiations, along with a task force that replaced the negotiating committee that had been representing the guild. Speed is a priority -- not just because film production has slowed drastically as the contract dispute has dragged on but also because SAG and its sister union, AFTRA, are scheduled to begin joint negotiations for a new commercials contract with advertising industry reps Feb. 23.

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