SAG-AFTRA Backs ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Cast Despite Pressure From WGA: ‘They Are Required to Go to Work’
variety.comElizabeth Wagmeister Chief Correspondent As rehearsals for “Dancing With the Stars” are being picketed by the WGA, the other union currently on strike — SAG-AFTRA — is backing the “DWTS” cast members.
In a firm statement to Variety, a spokesperson for SAG-AFTRA says that performers on the ABC competition series are not only not violating the strike rules by participating in the show, but that they are required to fulfill their contractual obligations with the show. “Our members appearing on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ are working under the Network Code agreement, which is a non-struck contract.
They are required to go to work, are not in violation of SAG-AFTRA strike rules, and we support them in fulfilling their contractual obligations,” a SAG-AFTRA spokesperson says. “The program is a SAG-AFTRA non-dramatic production under a separate agreement that is not subject to the union’s strike order,” the statement continues. “The majority of our members on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ had contractual obligations to the show prior to the strike.
Many are under option agreements that require them to return to the show if the producer exercises their option which the producer has done.
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