GEORGE CLOONEY - STARS BATTLE STRIKE THREAT

STARS BATTLE STRIKE THREAT

More than 130 stars including GEORGE CLOONEY, CAMERON DIAZ and CHARLIZE THERON have signed an open letter pleading with a union not to stage an actors strike next year (09).
The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) is due to ballot its members next month (Jan09) to authorise industrial action in an ongoing row with leading Hollywood studios and TV networks over royalty payments.
Cardholders of the 120,000-strong SAG rejected a three-year deal offered by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) earlier this year (Jul08), and union bosses will now ballot members over a walkout which could cripple the upcoming awards season.
Now more than 130 leading actors have signed a letter - written by Danny DeVito's wife Rhea Perlman - to officials at the SAG to call off the vote.
Stars including Glenn Close, Eva Longoria Parker, Tom Hanks, Tobey Maguire and Morgan Freeman have all put their name to the document, which was sent on Monday (15Dec08).
The letter reads: "We support our union and we support the issues we are fighting for, but we do not believe now is the time to be putting people out of work."
SAG is pushing for more money for actors when their work is released on DVD, plus a greater say in the endorsement of products on-air.
Union bosses have persuaded 31 high profile actors, including Mel Gibson and Martin Sheen, to put their names to a rival letter endorsing the strike bid.