The latest attempt to resolve the months old contract dispute between the Screen Actors Guild and the organization of studios known as the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers has ended with yet another rejection.

Both sides say they are getting the short end of the stick, and it's unclear what might happen from here.

"We entered this round of negotiations sending an unmistakably clear message that we were ready to make a deal," SAG said in a statement on its Web site. "In an effort to put the town back to work, our negotiator agreed to modify the guild's bargaining position to bring the guild in line with the deals made by our sister unions."

SAG's unwillingness to do that in the past has been a firing point for the AMPTP throughout the negotiation process, claiming SAG was asking for more than other unions received in their negotiations -- including what the Writers Guild of America received following its 100-day strike last year -- despite more difficult economic times.

But SAG says there was a twist in these negotiations.

"The AMPTP's last-minute, surprise demand for a new term of agreement extending to 2012 is regressive and damaging, and clearly signals the employers' unwillingness to agree to the deal they established with other entertainment unions," SAG said.

The extension is based on a new deal becoming effective upon ratification, rather than last June when its previous contract was up. By moving the date, SAG would have its contract at least a year off from other unions in Hollywood, thus weakening its bargaining position, union officials claim.

AMPTP say their offer is "strong and fair," and does match the deal offered to other unions.

"We have kept our offer on the table -- and even enhanced it -- despite the historically unprecedented economic crisis that has clobbered our nation and our industry," AMPTP said in a statement on its Web site. "The producers have always sought a full three-year deal with SAG, just as we negotiated with all other unions and guilds, and have offered SAG a way to achieve an earlier expiration date without contributing to further labor uncertainty. We simply cannot offer SAG a better deal than the rest of the industry achieved under far better economic conditions than those now confronting our industry."

"What management presented as a compromise is, in fact, an attempt to separate Screen Actors Guild from other industry unions," SAG said. "By attempting to extend our contract expiration one year beyond the other entertainment unions, the AMPTP intends to deleverage our bargaining position from this point forward."

The deal, AMPTP said, is a $250 million increase over SAG's now expired contract. It also had provisions for added compensation for what is being billed as "new media" like Internet and DVD distribution, sticking points for other unions in the past, including the WGA.

"The terms in the offer are the best we can or will offer in light of the five other major industry labor deals negotiated over the past year and the extraordinary economic crisis gripping the world's economy."

Despite AMPTP's calls that this was its "final" offer, SAG said it will continue to try and negotiate a deal for its members.