The Screen Actor Guild’s directors have rejected a petition signed by more than 1,500 actors, aiming to limit who can vote in future contract negotiations.

The petitioners desire that only guild members who work at least one day a year to have the right to vote in contract talks.

SAG president Alan Rosenberg condemned the petitioners’ decision, considering it elitist. He also blamed the actors who signed the petition of dividing the guild, which needs to keep the members united. The guild is now divided into two groups: one of regularly working actors and one of actors who have various jobs while seeking roles. The SAG directors were disappointed by the petition, saying it violated the history of the guild, which was founded 75 years ago.

The group of petitioners includes Ben Affleck, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ethan Hawk, Charlie Sheen, Kevin Bacon and Glenn Close.

“It's a non-democratic proposition and this is a democratic union,” said Pamela Guest, a casting director and actor, according to Bloomberg. “It's not an elitist union.”

SAG members Ned Vaughn, who brought the proposal to the board, said the signatories are unsatisfied with the result and said they would not stop until they make themselves understood.

“We will obviously get reaction from the 1500+ members who strongly support the proposal, and decide how to proceed based on the response. This much is certain: the effort to give working actors an effective voice in contract decisions will not go away,” Vaughn said, per Variety.

The current contract with top Hollywood studios will expire June 30.

Rosenberg claims that the Hollywood studios support the petition, because the move would weaken the guild.

The guild counts around 120,000 members, of which the majority considers the move unfair. Rosenberg said that guild members who work as waiters until finding a role often approach him in the bars or restaurants he goes, to express their disapproval concerning the proposal.