THR Illustration / Michael Buckner
SAG-AFTRA and Hollywood Studios will work through the weekend to finalize a new three-year contract after the companies submitted their latest offer to the union on Friday.
Both sides met Friday as negotiations continue on a deal that could end the 113-day actors strike that has become the longest television/theatre strike in the union’s history. A studio source said the meeting between the two parties appeared to be going well and the ball is now in SAG-AFTRA’s court.
In a message to union members Friday evening, the SAG-AFTRA bargaining committee added that it would meet Saturday morning to prepare for talks with the AMPTP in the afternoon.
Talks made slow progress throughout the week, with the question of how the contract will address AI taking center stage. SAG-AFTRA made a new AI proposal to the studio site on Wednesday as the union sought to close potential loopholes that could jeopardize its members’ jobs. As the labor group’s bargaining committee told members Thursday evening, the union spent several days waiting for responses to a “comprehensive” package of proposals touching on several issues that it presented to companies on Saturday.
Still, there is generally high hope that both sides are moving, albeit slowly, toward a resolution to the negotiation saga. On Tuesday, SAG-AFTRA chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland told members he was “cautiously optimistic” about negotiations after his negotiating committee said a day earlier that she and management were “far apart on key issues.” “removed”. On Tuesday, multiple sources told THR that they believe a deal is at least on the horizon.
On Wednesday, a studio source said: “Things are still moving, but slowly.”
SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher posted a photo on Instagram Friday of herself with a friend at an engagement party, noting that it was taken after a “long day at the office.” She wrote: “It is important to find balance. TGIF! Let’s hope the Amptp CEO shows up again with a seal-the-deal counter!” Time will tell whether SAG-AFTRA negotiators believe Friday’s proposal will do just that.
November 3rd, 10:54 p.m Updated with message from the SAG-AFTRA Negotiating Committee.