Advertisers are digging in for a long fight in their dispute with
the actors’ union, Equity, with many now said to be questioning the need
for a new agreement.
Employers’ sources claim that with significant numbers of Equity members
prepared to defy the union’s ban on commercials work, the absence of an
agreement is helping to keep costs down.
An insider said. ’Advertisers are getting the work done for less.’
Employers have refused to renegotiate their 1991 agreement with Equity
unless it accepts revised payments for voiceovers which, they claim, are
out of line with payments for on-screen actors.
The union claims to have had informal peace overtures from a number of
agencies. A regular TV advertiser is said to be prepared to break ranks
and sign the 1991 agreement.
’We told them to get their trade associations back to the negotiating
table,’ an Equity spokesman said.
