nbc's new show, Off Duty, also has AFTRA contracts. However, I think if SAG votes to strike the members and other unions will support it.

most of the actors involved are nobodies, unfortunately, the good ones, who are well paid, get stuck in the crossfire.
i think that any actor that makes it big time, should quit SAG. they dont need SAG, but SAG needs them to use as pawns.

The union leaders need to be crushed like bugs.

I thought that the writer's maybe should have just signed a temporary one year contract at the height of the contract when everyone was really starting to feel the pain. I don't know if that would have been the right decision, but I definitely think the actor's need to do something to avoid a strike. They are absolutely in the right, and the producer's are being evil dicks. But right now in this economy, they will not win with a strike. Even if they manage to wrangle enough members to authorize a strike vote, the public tide will be against them, and there is a chance they will hurt the overall industry greatly.

They need to sign a temporary contract relatively similar to the AFTRA one, and prepare over the next year for a fight to get the right contract, when the overall economy is a little better.

Do reality "stars" have to sign with unions? Just curious.

I read this morning that this might happen with other networks, as well. Apparently, infighting within SAG is at an all time high. The members are not pleased with either the negotiating tactics nor the poor decision to attempt to strike in the wake of failed negotiations in a tumultuous economic landscape.

It's an awful position to be in, and it doesn't look like unions are doing so well these days. Sometimes you just need to agree that the time is not great to rock the boat.