Tuesday, August 19, 2014

REACTION OVER FIRED GENERATION CAST: 'We stand in solidarity with colleagues who have valid grievances,' says SA Guild of Actors.


The South African Guild of Actors (SAGA) responded on Tuesday following the wholesale firing of the Generations cast on SABC1 on Monday by the SABC and MMSV Productions, saying the guild "stands in solidarity with colleagues who have valid grievances and offers its support in pursuing appropriate channels for redress".

The Generations cast was fired on Monday following a second strike the united actors embarked on since last Monday.

It was the Generations cast's second strike in 10 months at the SABC1 soap over exactly the same issues of wanting three year contracts from the SABC as it was promised in 2013, better paying contracts, as well as back payment for rebroadcasts and international sales of the show  - all issues that the SABC promised to give attention but failed to do.

"The South African Guild of Actors profoundly regrets recent developments in the dispute between the cast of Generations, the producer and the SABC," says SAGA.

"Some of the issues raised publicly by members of the Generations cast are the subject of current negotiations between SAGA, the SABC and the Independent Producers' Organisation (IPO)."

"These include a transparent process for calculating actors' compensation where programmes are sold to other territories, to which the broadcaster has agreed, and a standardised schedule of minimum rates which, it is proposed, will be renegotiated every three years".

"It is important to note that as independent contractors, actors cannot claim protection under labour law and should not be misled by advice to the contrary," says SAGA.

"It must be stressed that there are substantive benefits to be had as independent contractors and actors need to be better informed in order to make the most of these".

"The South African Guild of Actors is dedicated to improving working conditions for actors together with adequate compensation and the necessary benefits. The Guild continues to strive to create a unified and powerful voice for all actors in South Africa," says SAGA.


ALSO READ: South African Guild of Actors (SAGA) on the striking Generations cast: "The Generations actors are going about it the wrong way."