It could take another day for SAG-AFTRA to respond to the studios’ “last, best and final” offer as the union’s bargaining committee continues to consider its next move.
The studios’ last conversation with union leadership came Saturday afternoon, when a large group of CEOs wanted to make it clear they would not make any further concessions.
After that meeting, some members of the SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee expressed dissatisfaction with the studios’ offer. At least four of them retweeted a post calling on high-profile actors to pressure studio executives to come back with better terms.
“It’s time for you to put pressure on the CEOs,” Chelsea Schwartz, a SAG-AFTRA strike captain, wrote on the poster. “Call the studio managers. Yell at them on social media. Tell them to take our deal. You can help us end this strike and save our profession! Together we are stronger!”
Hollywood is eagerly awaiting the union’s response as many hope to return to work as quickly as possible after a six-month work stoppage.
During Saturday’s brief Zoom meeting, SAG-AFTRA executives said they would need more time to analyze and discuss the studios’ offer before they could provide their response. It remained unclear when the union would respond, although at least some on the studio side hoped to receive an answer on Sunday.
However, on Sunday afternoon it appeared the answer would have to wait until Monday as the union continued to discuss the proposal internally.
The studios offer a performance-based bonus structure in streaming. Under the proposal, actors would receive double their typical remaining pay if they appear on a show that is among the most-watched on a streaming platform.
The studios have continually improved this bonus over the course of discussions, but have not met the union’s demand for a cut of overall streaming revenue.
The studios also offered protections against artificial intelligence and what the studios described as “historic” wage increases. The union has advocated for strong protections against the use of AI to create “digital doppelgangers.” The fears are particularly high for background actors who could be among those first replaced by AI technology.
By invoking the phrase “last, best and final,” the studios are signaling that there will be no further negotiations and that the offer on the table is essentially a take-it-or-leave-it proposal. However, the union can take action against elements it displeases and has the option to remain on strike at any time.
The strike is now in its 115th day.
Cynthia Littleton contributed to this story.