1988 Strike Button

From March 21, 1988 until April 15, the Guild and AFTRA (and the Screen Extras Guild, as well) engaged in a strike against producers of TV and radio commercials. Picket lines went up in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Honolulu, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Minneapolis, and Nashville. Afterwards, SAG National Executive Director, Ken Orsatti declared “We made a significant breakthrough in establishing guaranteed payments for commercials shown on cable TV – this was the primary goal of our strike”. SAG President Patty Duke praised the members: ‘Whatever success we had in this strike we owe to our rank-and-file members… it was a difficult time for everyone, but I am extremely proud of the membership of the Guild.”