Union tells members top studio execs have ‘asked us to come back to the table’
SAG-AFTRA and Hollywood’s major studios will return to the negotiating table on Tuesday, nearly two weeks after management halted talks, saying the sides were too far apart. The union’s negotiating committee confirmed in a statement to members that the initiative to resume talks came from management.
“It is clear that the strength and solidarity of our members has sent an unmistakable message to CEOs. “As we have said repeatedly, we are always ready, willing and able to meet and work together at the table to reach an agreement that is worth your sacrifices,” the SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee wrote.
The resumption of negotiations was announced Saturday afternoon in a brief joint statement from SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The statement said at least some executives from AMPTP member companies would also be present. SAG-AFTRA’s first industry-wide strike in more than 40 years has reached the 100-day mark.
“SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP will meet for negotiations on Tuesday, October 24th at the SAG-AFTRA Plaza. Several executives from AMPTP member companies will be in attendance.”
The return to negotiations comes as internal pressure mounts on SAG-AFTRA leadership to find a path to a resolution to collective bargaining and the union’s first industry-wide strike since 1980. George Clooney, a top star with a rocky history with Hollywood unions, came out this week with an alternative proposal to secure higher streaming residuals. This shocked the leadership of SAG-AFTRA and became a clear sign of unrest in the ranks.
The AMPTP surprised SAG-AFTRA late on October 11 when it abruptly announced a “pause” in talks because the sides were simply too far apart on key issues. Studio executives were more than a little annoyed that four of Hollywood’s most senior executives spent five full days negotiating with the artists’ union without managing to close any crucial gaps. Union leaders Fran Drescher and Duncan Crabtree-Ireland increased strike activity and went on a media tour to warn studios that the contract terms on the table on October 11 were not enough to end the strike.
The resumption of talks also comes against the backdrop of a ticking clock in which there is the possibility of shooting new TV episodes or films before the end of the year. Before the SAG-AFTRA talks with AMPTP took a sharp turn, industry insiders had been eyeing the week of November 6th as a possible date for filming, particularly for TV projects that were almost ready to launch by the time the WGA launched on November 2nd. May marks the summer of strikes.
The four executives who attended the contract conclave with the WGA and SAG-AFTRA were Bob Iger of Disney, Donna Langley of NBCUniversal, Ted Sarandos of Netflix and David Zaslav of Warner Bros. Discovery. It’s not immediately clear whether this foursome will regroup for the new round with SAG-AFTRA or whether there will be new faces at the table.
Here is the full memo from the SAG-AFTRA Negotiating Committee:
As we mark the 100th day of our strike, we are pleased to confirm that company executives have asked us to return to the negotiating table. Official negotiations will resume on Tuesday, October 24th.
It is clear that the strength and solidarity of our members has sent an unmistakable message to CEOs. As we have emphasized many times, we are always ready, willing and able to reach an understanding and work together at the table to reach a deal that is worth your sacrifice. Also this morning, as our semi-annual SAG-AFTRA meeting is taking place.
There will likely be a lot of interest and potentially excitement surrounding our discussions in the coming days. Don’t believe anything you hear until it comes from us.
We are focused.
We are determined.
We won’t waver.
One day longer.
One day stronger.
As long as it takes.
Your TV/Cinema Negotiating Committee