Since their contract expires in less than a week, those responsible at SAG-AFTRA are optimistic about the progress of the negotiations.
In a video sent to members on Saturday, union president Fran Drescher and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland say they hope to reach an agreement with the studios.
Doing so would prevent a “double strike” in which Writers Guild of America artists would join pickets outside major studios.
“I just want to assure you that we are having extremely productive negotiations, focused on all the crucial issues that you have told us are most important to you,” Drescher said. “We remain strong and will strike a landmark deal.”
The video comes a day after members of the Directors Guild of America voted to ratify their agreement, which includes increases in salvage and minimum wages, increases in hours worked, family vacations and creative rights.
The SAG-AFTRA deal expires next Friday and there are talks that negotiations could be extended if the sides cannot agree on all points by then.
In the video, Crabtree-Ireland noted that “we have a very short window of opportunity before our contract expires.”
SAG-AFTRA represents 160,000 artists. The union is seeking strict protections around the use of artificial intelligence, as well as an increase in remaining balances and regulations for self-taped auditions, among many other issues.
“We’ve all worked long and hard to move these talks forward, and we remain optimistic that we can bring the studios, networks and streamers together to negotiate a fair deal that respects your contribution to this industry,” Crabtree-said Ireland .
The leaders did not use the word “strike” and did not mention the strike approval, which was approved by 98% of members just before talks began on June 7th.
At a similar point in the WGA negotiations, the Guild held events to set up pickets and enacted extensive strike rules.
The SAG-AFTRA strike authorization gives leadership the power to call a strike beginning July 1 if no deal is reached.