The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) is planning to send strike authorization ballots to over 100,000-union members on 2nd January 2009, which means the Golden Globes award ceremony is on safe ground, though Oscar night could be within reach of a potential boycott.

Votes will be counted on 23rd January, nearly two weeks after the Golden Globe Awards ceremony but ahead of the most important date on the Hollywood calendar i. e.
22nd February when the Academy Awards ceremony is held. If, 75% of voting members approve the strike, the SAG national board will call a strike.

According to Alan Rosenberg, who serves as the Guild president, a strike is a last resort to force a resolution in stalled contract talks with major movie studios. If necessary, the strike will be timed to have the most impact.

The actors guild is unhappy with the studios over Internet productions treatment and benefits actors are eligible for, when earthquakes or other unforeseen events like strike by another union, shuts down productions.