The Region - News from July 11, 1986

East Coast leaders of two actors’ unions unanimously voted in favor of asking the general membership to authorize a strike that could disrupt the upcoming television season. On Monday, West Coast leaders of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists voted 69 to 0 to take a strike authorization vote by mail ballot. Approval of the East Coast leaders was needed before the unions could mail out ballots. A strike could disrupt the prime-time fall television schedule, since at least 45 shows begin shooting this month. In 1980, a nine-week walkout by film and TV actors delayed production of fall shows until late October. The unions are prepared to mail out ballots within a few days and results should be known by July 28, said AFTRA spokesman Dick Moore. Talks should resume by the end of the month, he said.