The final round of talks between the Hollywood Actors Union (SAG AFTRA) and representatives of the big studios (AMPTP) ended without an agreement, according to Variety, and the contract between the two federations officially expired this morning (13).
This means that the actors’ strike is already a reality in an official statement, SAGAFTRA announced that the negotiating committee unanimously approved the strike recommendation. The union executive was due to meet this morning to formalize the hiring.
Representatives of SAG and AMPTP made conflicting statements to the press after the failed negotiations. Fran DrescherPresident of the Actors’ Union, said the studios responded to cast requests in an “offensive and disrespectful” manner.
“SAGAFTRA negotiated in good faith. We were keen to reach an agreement that satisfactorily addressed the needs of stakeholders, but the AMPTP’s responses to the key proposals we brought to the table were offensive and disrespectful of our massive contribution to this industry.” Studios have refused to meaningfully address some issues, and others simply blocked our suggestions. Unless they are willing to negotiate in good faith, we cannot even begin to consider a deal,” she commented.
Meanwhile, AMPTP has released an official statement outlining proposals allegedly made to SAGAFTRA during the negotiations. The organization said it was “deeply disappointed by the union’s decision to call off talks”.
“This is SAG’s decision, not ours. In doing so, the union rejected the historic proposals we had brought to the table, including pay, residual and pension increases, expanded studio health insurance plans, protections for actors in the casting process, and shortened contract periods for television series, as well as a bold rule on using artificial intelligence to reproduce the appearance of actors. Rather than continue negotiations from this point, SAGAFTRA has set us down a path that will only worsen the financial hardship of the thousands of people who do “We need our industry to put food on the table “, they said.
Hollywood actors have not gone on strike since the 1980s. The strike is expected to not only halt filming on many projects featuring SAGaffiliated cast members, but also prevent those actors from attending press events for films already completed and in the works from theaters.
With added pressure from the twomonth writers’ strike, most projects in US studios large and small are expected to come to a complete halt pending new deals being signed. The two unions have not gone on strike together since the 1960s.