The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) bargaining committee voted unanimously to recommend a strike that could paralyze Hollywood productions.
Hollywood’s major unions on Wednesday issued a joint statement of their “unwavering support and solidarity” for SAG-AFTRA, including the Writers Guild of America, which has been on strike for more than two months with no sign of progress.
“Hollywood must be a place where every worker, on and off screen, is treated according to the value that their skills and talents hold”, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Teamsters, Hollywood Basic Crafts, Directors Guild of America ( DGA), the Writers Guild of America East and Writers Guild of America West said in their statement.
The group added, “While the studios are worth trillions of dollars, billions of viewers around the world, and sky-high profits, this battle is not about actors versus the studios, but rather workers from every branch and division of the industry .” work together to prevent megacorporations from undermining the conditions we have fought for for decades.”
The current SAG-AFTRA contract expires at 11:59 p.m. PT on Wednesday. The deal was originally scheduled to expire on June 30, but was extended after SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) reached an agreement.
According to SAG-AFTRA, union leaders and the AMPTP agreed Tuesday to meet with federal brokers to potentially negotiate a settlement before the current contract expires.
Striking WGA (Writers Guild of America) workers demonstrate in front of Paramount Studios in Los Angeles on July 12, 2023.Mario Tama/Getty Images
“We will not be deterred from negotiating in good faith to ensure a fair and equitable deal until the expiry of our agreement,” SAG-AFTRA said in a statement. “We are committed to the negotiation process and will examine and pursue every possible opportunity.” However, we are not convinced that the employers have any intention of negotiating an agreement.”
Since no agreement could be reached between the groups, a strike is now becoming increasingly likely. In June, 98% of members agreed to authorize a strike if no agreement is reached, SAG-AFTRA said.
“Since negotiations began on June 7, members of our negotiation committee and our staff team have spent many long days, weekends and holidays trying to reach a deal that protects you, the working actors and artists this industry depends on. said SAG-AFTRA President and Chief Negotiator Fran Drescher in a statement released early Thursday. “As you know, your pay has plummeted over the last decade with the rise of the streaming ecosystem. In addition, artificial intelligence poses an existential threat to the creative professions, and all actors and performers deserve contract language that protects them from losing their jobs.” Identity and talent are exploited without consent and pay. Despite our team’s commitment to standing up for you, AMPTP has refused to acknowledge that tremendous changes in the industry and economy have had a negative impact on those who work for the studios.”
Following the failed negotiations, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers issued a separate statement early Thursday.
“We are deeply disappointed that SAG-AFTRA has decided to end negotiations. This is the Union’s decision, not ours. In doing so, she has turned down our offer of historic wage and residual increases, as well as significantly higher caps on pension and healthcare contributions, foreplay protection, shortened option periods for series, a groundbreaking AI proposal that protects actors’ digital likenesses, and more,” the said AMPTP. “Rather than continue to negotiate, SAG-AFTRA has put us on a course that will exacerbate the financial hardship for thousands who depend on the industry for their livelihoods. There are 160,000 members of SAG-AFTRA and over 11,000 members of the Writers Guild of America.”
The never-ending writers’ strike that began in May is costing the California economy $30 million a day, according to Deadline.
Writers are demanding that studios pay them accordingly, as the shift to streaming has transformed the way shows are produced and monetized.
At a protest ahead of the strike outside Netflix offices on Wednesday, actors told ABC News they are making ends meet financially and the contracts have not kept pace with inflation.
Their biggest concerns are streaming residuals, the impact of AI technology, and more money.
“I think most people don’t understand that most actors don’t make millions of dollars. A lot of us are struggling to eat and pay rent,” John Jared, a three-year SAG-AFTRA member, told ABC News.