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The actor’s strike has reached its 100th day as talks between SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP remain stalled.
With the continued support of his members and supportive sister unions such as the WGA, IATSE and Teamsters, among many others, negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland remains confident that all parties can reach a fair agreement.
“I find it so impressive, the unity, the strength of our members. As you saw on the picket lines, our members are fully involved. Our operational captains are always visible; “Everyone coming to the rallies has a common goal that will definitely get us through until there is an agreement,” Crabtree-Ireland told Deadline on Thursday following a vigil honoring the strike captains.
“I did not expect [negotiations] “It would take so long,” he continued. “The time spent without negotiations was completely unacceptable. The studios and streamers should now be back at the table with us. They should have been there for the first 80 days, but that wasn’t the case. I’m very excited for this to happen and I believe it will happen soon. I think there is a lot of pressure outside of formal channels to bring people back to the table, so I’m optimistic that this will happen soon. But I know we’ll just stay strong and get a fair deal.”
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SAG-AFTRA bargaining committee member Michelle Hurd, who most recently starred in Star Trek: Picard, looks back on how things have unfolded over the last 100 days while acknowledging the plight of other workers affected by the strike.
“It was interesting. The first day was like emancipating yourself from the room. So we all came out and said, ‘Yes! Strike, strike, strike, let’s make a deal.’ And on the 100th day I am even more vital,” said Hurd.
“The solidarity I feel when I’m on the streets is incredible. The fact that the WGA is still with us in this regard is phenomenal because they have already received their contract,” she continued. “When we talk to the public, people ask, ‘What about the other people like the below-the-line workers, the makeup artists, the people who are part of the tentacles that make up our industry?’ It hurts them, but they are here. They understand because it hurt them too. They never had the contracts either. This way we are all much more stable and united in our fight.”
Hurd understands the calls for the negotiating committee to “just end this,” but she doesn’t want the sacrifices made to be in vain.
“If we give in on the 100th day, what is the point of all this? We’re at day 100 because [the AMPTP] didn’t come to the table. When they come to the table, we are more than ready, eager and happy to negotiate,” she shared.
She added: “The strange thing is that I think they thought the longer they waited for us, the more we would break down and disintegrate and weaken our resolve. “On the contrary, we are somehow angrier. We feel disrespected and condescended because they think we are so stupid that we just turn around and forget why we are fighting for this good contract. The reason we fight is so that the working-class actor has the opportunity to make a living in this beautiful, sacred art form of storytelling that we all love so much.”
Hurd pointed to the lack of financial growth for SAG-AFTRA, which “reflects inflation over the last four decades.” Something felt dual in the home she shares with her husband and fellow actor Garret Dillahunt.
“How come I work in an industry that hasn’t increased these numbers since 1983? On the 100th day we are more united and more solidarity. We are more focused on what we want, which is a good, fair wage contract that helps our entire union, our 160,000 members in various categories. I feel stronger than ever.”
She added: “We are on the right side of history. I understand the pain. I feel it myself; I’m married to an actor. We made a terrible decision because we are both unemployed. I am 100% affected by this. But one day longer, one day stronger. We’ll get what we want.”
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The pickets have produced actors like John Ortiz, Hollywood stars whose support pushes others to keep performing on the best and worst of days.
“As I got older, I prided myself on being a homebody. But since the strike started, I’ve been coming out every day now. “I made this pact with myself,” says Ortiz, who stars in the Cord Jefferson-directed feature “American Fiction.”
He continued: “What I’ve found is that on days when I tell myself I’m going to put my headphones on and go, I connect with someone.” Yesterday I got into a conversation with someone at Sony who told me told me how much she wanted to walk around the whole studio with me, but couldn’t because she had just had surgery. She had just beaten cancer. We had this amazing conversation about life and gratitude and how important it is to show up no matter what. She’s just one example of how you can find inspiration on the picket line and connect naturally if you keep an open mind.”
Ortiz has helped pave the way for Latino talent in theater and Hollywood for more than three decades. The industry veteran can often be seen at the weekly flash mobs organized by Latinas Acting Up, a group founded by Diana Maria Rivas and Lisa Vidal.
“I’ve made a lot of connections with people who you discover have commonalities that span across all these amazing areas of life, like cultures, races, identities and professions. As much as it hurts, it can also be pretty cool. We all want to get back to work,” Ortiz said. “I have two more scenes to shoot for this series in Toronto. I have another film that I have to start. I also have two films that I’m so proud of that I can’t promote them and I won’t until we get a fair deal.”
The Negotiating Committee recognizes that both good and bad days are at stake. Deadline spoke with SAG-AFTRA members who talked about how finding community turned many of their bad days into good ones. Hurd reflects Ortiz’s feeling of being open to listening or just saying hello.
“I’ve come here when I’ve been really angry about what’s going on and instead of holding on to that anger, I feel inspired and I feel encouraged and supported. There is something crazy about the world of strikes. You have a community of people that becomes your family. For example, when you feel vulnerable or feel like you need a shoulder to cry on or an ear to hear you. You can go to the picket line and meet people you may have never known before and who you may have never met. You meet eyes and suddenly it’s like, “Oh my God, I’m so glad I saw you.” Your worst day becomes your best day in a situation that seems bad but isn’t. It’s really empowering.”
Kevin E. West, a member of the bargaining committee who most recently appeared on “The Righteous Gemstones,” encourages members to continue to reach out, although they understand that the time available to many is limited.
“Solidarity is not about a percentage. Solidarity is a core belief system and considers your personal strength, your financial dependence and your emotional state of mind. We just need everyone to come out when they can and as often as they can,” he said. “Whether it’s 45 minutes three days a week or three hours two days a week. It makes no difference to us. Take your pick from anywhere in this country: New England, Mid-Atlantic, Atlanta, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles. Get out what you can do. Bring a friend and meet here instead of lunch. You can go to the picket lines with a snack and a sign. We just need you out there to show we’re not going anywhere.”
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Nicole Cyrille, SAG-AFTRA bargaining committee member and chair of LA Performers with Disabilities, praised the strong member participation over 100 days. She has helped organize pickets like “Ramping Up: A Cross-Union Picket For Disabled Artists” in August.
“Every member that shows up is just as important. That is the power. We show power by being united, and this union is more united than ever before,” said Cyrille. “You can see the energy of the members that are out here. We are committed and motivated and will not relent until we get a fair deal for our entire membership. Nobody wants to strike, right? But seeing this in community and unity is something we will carry in our hearts forever. So thank you to every single member who walked the line, carried a sign and posted on social media to support this movement.”