George Clooney

George Clooney

George Clooney and Tom Hanks have loaned their star power to the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) by urging union members to vote in favour of a new deal with Hollywood's major studios.

Clooney and Hanks, along with around 500 other actors, signed a statement on Friday (29May09) that "wholeheartedly" recommends SAG's 120,000 members should vote "yes" on the new labour contract, believed to have more concessions from the studios.

Since last June (08), the Screen Actors Guild and Hollywood's top studio executives were locked in nine months of tense negotiations over actors' pay in light of growing technology, with ads expanding to the Internet.

In April (09), both parties shook hands over a new agreement - and now the membership is currently voting on a new deal, with other members in favour including Sally Field, Patricia Heaton and Rob Lowe.

The result of the vote is expected in June (09).