Explosive Showdown: Actors Demand Fair Pay Amidst Collapsed Negotiations! SAG & AMPTP Speak Out

Summary

SAG-AFTRA negotiations with AMPTP have fallen through, leading to the continuation of the strike for fair compensation.

The companies have declined to safeguard performers from being substituted by AI and have turned down suggestions from SAG-AFTRA.

SAG-AFTRA remains united and prepared to engage in negotiations, highlighting their determination and urging members to rally with them on picket lines and at solidarity events.

The SAG-AFTRA fight for fair compensation will continue as negotiations have failed. On July 14, the actors joined the writers guild WGA on strike. While the WGA negotiations have been resolved with studios, the actors have continued their battle with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) for fair compensation.

According to Deadline, the SAG-AFTRA strike is progressing as negotiations with the AMPTP have fallen through. SAG has stated that the "industry CEOs have walked away from the bargaining table" after presenting an offer that was deemed inadequate by the actors' guild. The AMPTP reportedly declined to counter-offer SAG-AFTRA's proposal. In response to SAG's offer, the AMPTP claimed that it would cost them $800 million and would impose an unsustainable economic burden. The full statements from SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP can be found below.

The SAG-AFTRA Strike Just Got A Lot Less Hopeful

After the WGA strike contract was ratified and SAG-AFTRA began negotiations with the AMPTP, it initially seemed that the actors' strike was coming to an end. However, the negotiations have now reached a point of complete collapse. The AMPTP has declared that the gap between the two organizations is too wide to continue talks, leading to an even greater stalemate than before.

The tone of both statements is extremely strong, suggesting that the hope for civil discussions is distant. The AMPTP has taken a defensive stance, highlighting the offers they made to SAG-AFTRA. In contrast, SAG-AFTRA has assertively accused the AMPTP of using bully tactics. This friction was somewhat expected, given SAG-AFTRA's previous claims that the AMPTP deliberately prolonged the strike through evasive tactics, making the current situation disappointing yet predictable.

For those eager to resume work on film and TV series once the WGA strike concluded, the failed negotiations are a major letdown. With both the AMPTP and SAG-AFTRA firmly standing their ground, it is now uncertain when the SAG-AFTRA strike will be resolved. Until then, SAG-AFTRA will persist with the motto "One day longer. One day stronger. As long as it takes."

Full SAG-AFTRA Statement:

Dear SAG-AFTRA Members,

We regret to inform you that the industry CEOs have chosen to leave the negotiating table without making a counteroffer to our latest proposal. It is disheartening that despite our efforts to negotiate in good faith, they have presented an offer last week that was significantly lower than their initial proposal at the start of the strike.

These companies disregard the protection of performers against AI substitution, fail to keep up with inflation by increasing wages, and deny sharing even a small fraction of the substantial revenue generated by YOUR work. On our part, we have made significant efforts, notably through a complete transformation of our revenue sharing proposal, which would cost the companies less than 57¢ per subscriber each year. However, they have rejected our proposals and refused to provide a counteroffer.

Moreover, they resort to bullying tactics. Just recently, they deliberately misrepresented the cost of the aforementioned proposal to the media, inflating it by 60%. A similar approach has been taken regarding AI, where they claim to uphold performer consent but persist in demanding consent for the use of a performer's digital likeness on the very first day of employment, encompassing an entire cinematic universe or any franchise project.

The companies are implementing the same unsuccessful tactic that they previously used against the WGA. Their strategy involves disseminating misleading information in an attempt to deceive our members into relinquishing their solidarity and exerting pressure on our negotiators. However, our members, just like the writers, are astute and will not be deceived.

We understand the distress caused by these companies to our members, strike captains, IATSE, Teamsters, Basic Crafts union members, and everyone in the industry. We have made significant sacrifices and will not yield to their refusal to cooperate and their insatiable greed. We stand as one and are prepared to engage in negotiations today, tomorrow, and every day.

Our resolve is unwavering. Join us on picket lines and at solidarity events around the country and let your voices be heard.

One day longer. One day stronger. As long as it takes.

Your TV/Theatrical Negotiating Committee.

Full AMPTP Statement

Negotiations between the AMPTP and SAG-AFTRA have come to a halt following the presentation of SAG-AFTRA's latest proposal on October 11. Despite meaningful discussions, it has become evident that the differences between AMPTP and SAG-AFTRA are insurmountable, and the conversations are no longer productive.

SAG-AFTRA's current offer included a viewership bonus that they claimed would result in an annual cost exceeding $800 million – an economically unfeasible burden. SAG-AFTRA made little to no progress on the various other unresolved matters.

Member company executives and AMPTP representatives engaged in a five-day meeting with SAG-AFTRA, spanning the past eight workdays. Throughout this duration, AMPTP presented a series of offers, one of which was a pioneering success-based residual for High-Budget SVOD productions.

The minimums would experience the highest percentage increase in 35 years, resulting in an extra $717 million in wages and $177 million in contributions to the Pension and Health Plans throughout the contract period.

Major role (guest star) performers' salaries on High Budget SVOD Programs would witness a significant 58% increase in wages.

High Budget SVOD foreign residuals from the four largest streaming services have witnessed a remarkable surge of 76%. Moreover, performers will now experience significant enhancements in pension and health contribution caps, varying between 22-33%. These modifications will facilitate eligibility for additional periods of health coverage and enable the accumulation of years of service towards a pension.

Meeting almost all of the casting requirements put forth by the Union, which include provisions for self-tapes accompanied by protective measures, opportunities for auditions in both virtual and physical formats, and modifications to assist performers with disabilities.

Implementing a compensation enhancement of 25% for individuals who simultaneously sing and dance on camera in the same session, whether it be during rehearsals or photography. This adjustment represents a substantial 30% raise compared to the existing wages.

The stunt coordinators will receive a 10% raise in the first year, followed by significant increases in the second and third years. Additionally, television stunt coordinators will now receive fixed residuals, a change that has never been implemented before.

There will also be substantial enhancements to the relocation allowance. If a performer is on an overnight location for six months, they will receive a 200% increase in their relocation allowance. Furthermore, this allowance will now be granted for every season in which the performer stays overnight, compared to the current limit of two to four seasons.

Schedule F money breaks have experienced significant growth, ranging from 11% to 41%. This notable 41% increment is specifically applicable to one-hour television programs, which encompass the majority of productions carried out under the Agreement. Additionally, there has been a commendable 25% rise in span money breaks.

Covering performance capture work under the Agreement, which the Union has sought for 20 years.

On AI protections:

The performer and background actor must give advance consent for the creation and utilization of Digital Replicas. The use of a Digital Replica of the performer is prohibited without obtaining the performer's written consent and providing a detailed description of its intended use in the film.

The Replica cannot be used again without the performer's explicit consent and payment. Additionally, any alterations to an actor's performance in a role must be communicated to the performer and their consent must be obtained.

The AMPTP extended the same terms, which had been approved by the DGA and WGA, regarding general wage increases, High-Budget SVOD residuals, and viewership bonuses. However, SAG-AFTRA chose to reject these terms. We remain hopeful that SAG-AFTRA will reconsider their stance and resume constructive negotiations promptly.

Source: Deadline