SAG-AFTRA members, who represent a diverse group of over 16,000 professionals in the entertainment industry, including actors, journalists, and singers, voted to authorize a strike just two days ahead of negotiations with studios. This decision follows months of escalating tension in Hollywood due to the ongoing strike by the Writers' Guild of America, which has had a significant impact on film and television production. The WGA's demands include a fair employment contract that guarantees writers' hiring throughout the production process, improved residual payments, and the reduction of mini rooms. SAG-AFTRA members have previously shown support for their writer colleagues by joining them in picket lines. While the Directors Guild of America recently reached a tentative agreement with studios, negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and studios are still ongoing.
The vote has given performers a significant advantage in negotiations for a new three-year contract that is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, even though it does not immediately lead to a strike. With almost 98 percent of members approving the vote and about 65,000 members casting their ballots, just under half of eligible voters have been represented. According to Fran Drescher, the president of SAG-AFTRA, the vote sends a message of "strength and solidarity." The current contract between actors and studios is set to expire on June 30.
The actors' demands are similar to those of writers, including higher wages, greater residual payments, and safeguards against using their likeness and previous work without their permission for training artificial intelligence. The actors' union is also seeking to enhance health and pension plans and impose stricter limits on self-taped auditions, which became popular during the COVID-19 epidemic. "We have a strong position, but we are not seeking to strike," said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA's chief negotiator, "but we will not accept anything less than what our members deserve."
's decision to authorize a strike could have serious consequences for Hollywood. The union typically avoids strikes, preferring to resolve negotiations with studios through other means. The last time actors went on strike was in 2000, over a dispute about commercial pay, which lasted for six months. A strike now, coupled with the ongoing writers' strike, could lead to decreased output, increased cancellations, and a drop in overall quality.
