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As SAG-AFTRA negotiations drag on through the weekend, the union and Hollywood studios concluded talks Saturday on a new three-year contract that could end the actors’ strike.
Work is set to continue on Sunday, with a source telling that Saturday’s talks were “constructive.”
During the discussions, the union side presented their latest responses to the studios. Discussions on the studio side on Saturday were led by Carol Lombardini, president of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, with no top company executives present, as was the case at previous negotiating sessions this week.
The development comes after the artists’ union and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers returned to negotiations on Tuesday for the first time in nearly two weeks. With the industry closely watching, both sides exchanged proposals over several days and took several steps on sensitive issues. When it comes to wage floors, the studios increased their offer from 5 to 7 percent in the first year, while the union lowered its offer from 11 to 9 percent. When it comes to the union’s attempt to give higher pay to members who work for streaming platforms, the studios initially adjusted their earlier proposal for a performance-based streaming bonus, while the union later adjusted its own demand to charge a fee per streaming subscriber (details of his new idea were not immediately available).
But on the 107th day of the SAG-AFTRA strike, both sides are under pressure to make real progress. This month, a group of prominent actors began speaking with their union and studios to improve progress in negotiations. A number of actors also began drafting a letter expressing concern about the union’s leadership, but refrained from publishing it for fear of the letter’s possible impact on negotiations. Then, on October 26, a separate letter appeared to have been signed by thousands of actors, admonishing negotiators: “We have not come all this way to give in now.”
Meanwhile, studios are concerned about the future of their 2024 film and broadcast schedules as the holiday season approaches. On Friday, Disney announced a new change to its 2024 release schedule, saying that two spring actors – Snow White and Pixar’s Elio – would be pushed back by more than a year due to the ongoing strike.