Mumbai: The Screen Actors Guild National Board of Directors has passed a resolution at its quarterly plenary in Los Angeles saying that SAG will formally request a federal mediator to be brought into the negotiations with the hope of moving the Theatrical and TV negotiations forward.

The Board added four new members to the National Negotiating Committee, two from the Hollywood Division, one from the New York Division, and one from the Regional Branch Division.

The Board authorized a referendum and accompanying educational information to be sent to the members requesting their authorization for the National Board to call a strike in the Theatrical and TV Contract, at such time as the Negotiating Committee determines in its sole discretion that the mediation process has failed.

Approval of the strike authorization would require 75 percent approval of the members who vote. "We hope mediation will help move this process forward. This action by the board demonstrates our commitment to bargain with the strength of our unified membership behind us. Economic times are tough for all Americans, but we must take a stand for what is fair," said Screen Actors Guild National president Alan Rosenberg.

"Our number one goal remains securing a good contract without a strike," said SAG national executive director and chief negotiator Doug Allen. "I am pleased by the board’s strong show of support for the national negotiating committee and look forward to meeting with the federal mediator and AMPTP representatives as soon as possible."

Screen Actors Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) negotiating committees met for 44 days of formal negotiations but have not yet reached a successor agreement to the TV/Theatrical Agreement that expired 30 June.