After filming an Olympic-themed ad for GM's Buick in
Canada Wednesday despite the SAG/AFTRA strike against
advertisers, Tiger Woods "sought Thursday to mend fences"
with the unions "by pointing out in a statement that he has
postponed many shoots since the strike started," according
to Dave McNary of DAILY VARIETY. But the Buick ad has
"enraged" union members, "who believe Woods needs to be
punished to set an example for other strikebreakers." SAG
said that it "may expel" Woods. SAG President William
Daniels: "Mr. Woods violated rule No. 1 of the current
commercials strike by accepting nonunion work. Accordingly
[SAG] plans to notify him of the date and time of his trial
board, whereupon he will be asked to explain his actions."
Sports Business Group President David Carter said that the
SAG "initiative could create a short-term image problem for
Woods but probably won't have much long-term impact because
of his solid image." Carter: "Corporations tend to avoid
people who have controversy attached, but he's one of those
who are relatively bullet-proof. He may have decided that
over the long-term, his key customers are corporations"
(DAILY VARIETY, 7/28). The SAG/AFTRA statement "admonished"
Woods and Buick, stating "corporate greed eliminates hero"
(David Robb, HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 7/28). Woods, in his
statement: "It was an extremely tough situation, but I have
relationships to uphold with my sponsors who have supported
me over the years. This is in no way a stance against the
union" (IMG). FSN's Tom Murray, on Woods crossing the picket
line: "I'm not surprised. He has these commitments that he
must keep, and I guess he's rationalizing that, 'It's not
going on up in Toronto, I can do it up there, why not"
("NSR," 7/27). For more on Woods, see (#25).
