The balance of power on the national board of the Screen Actors Guild could be shifted after Thursday night, when the union announces results of a hotly contested board election.

Regardless of who wins, however, don’t expect to see any quick resolution to the stalemate with studios that has left actors working without a contract since June 30.

The election has pitted a group of dissidents in Hollywood against the more hard-line incumbent group known as Membership First, with celebrity supporters lining up on either side. It’s Tom Hanks vs. Martin Sheen.

Up for grabs are 11 national board seats in the powerful Hollywood division — that’s where the majority of SAG’s members reside — plus another 22 for those who serve as alternates.

Because the Membership First faction holds only a slim majority on the national board, the dissidents known as Unite for Strength need to win only about six of the 11 seats to gain a majority on the 71-member national board. They would achieve that by teaming up with board members in New York and the various regional branches who have been at odds with the current leadership.

The group has made no secret of its unhappiness with SAG Executive Director Doug Allen over his handling of the negotiations and relations with the smaller actors union the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.  And with control of the national board, the dissidents could take steps to either replace Allen as chief negotiator or fire him outright.

Neither step would be easy and could expose the union to a potential breach of contract lawsuit by Allen, while causing further infighting within Hollywood’s most discordant union. Buying out the remainder of Allen’s contract would be costly, however, given his paycheck of about $450,000 a year.

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