The actors’ unionSAG-AFTRA(Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) has now ratified the monumental deal that came as a result of the recent strike action. Last night, members of the union agreed to the deal with 78% voting in favor of the deal from a turnout of 38%.
A statement has since been released bySAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescherand chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, who call this “one of the most important chapters” in modern entertainment history, describing the new deal as “an enormous victory.”
“Today we close out one of the most important chapters in recent entertainment industry history. This contract is an enormous victory for working performers, and it marks the dawning of a new era for the industry. Getting to this point was truly a collective effort. With the ratification of this agreement, SAG-AFTRA members will receive unprecedented wage escalation, significantly improved streaming compensation, and the first-ever crucial protections around the use of artificial intelligence technology.”
SAG-AFTRA (the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) approved an agreement on November 9th to end the unprecedented strike action that has been ongoing since July. Negotiations had been reaching a crisis point in those last few days, but at 12.01 a.m. PT on Thursday a deal between themselves and the studios represented by AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) was struck, bringing the strike to an end following a unanimous vote.
As perVariety, the deal will see most minimums increase by 7%, which is 2% more than that received by the WGA when their strike ended last month. Further details about how the deal will impact the highly publicized use of AI, something that caused a major sticking point in negotiations, are yet to be revealed. The deal will now go to the union’s national board on Friday. In a statement to members, SAG-AFTRA wrote:
“We are thrilled and proud to tell you that today your TV/Theatrical Negotiating Committee voted unanimously to approve a tentative agreement with the AMPTP. As of 12:01am PT on Nov. 9, our strike is officially suspended and all picket locations are closed. We will be in touch in the coming days with information about celebration gatherings around the country.”
Hollywood has largely been on pause since the writers and actors strikesbegan earlier this year, and while the Writers Guild of America were able to reach a satisfactory deal last month, there have been a few more sticking points for the actors’ guild. Namely surrounding the use of artificial intelligence. But it seems that all that is about to become a moment of history, meaning that the projects and promotions that had been stalled will soon be able to commence.
The union added:
“In a contract valued at over one billion dollars, we have achieved a deal of extraordinary scope that includes ‘”‘above-pattern'”‘ minimum compensation increases, unprecedented provisions for consent and compensation that will protect members from the threat of AI, and for the first time establishes a streaming participation bonus. Our Pension & Health caps have been substantially raised, which will bring much needed value to our plans. In addition, the deal includes numerous improvements for multiple categories including outsize compensation increases for background performers, and critical contract provisions protecting diverse communities.”
As this is a developing story, check back for more details on the deal as it happens.
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SAG-AFTRA Has Been on Strike Since July
The actors’ union have been keeping their members updated on negotiations, and things at laststarted to look promising this week. SAG-AFTRA wrote a message to its members following talks on Wednesday saying:
“The Negotiating Committee met today to discuss and finalize our response to the AMPTP AI counter-proposal which we received yesterday. The negotiators then met with AMPTP representatives for more than three hours this afternoon and evening to present and review our revised proposal. We continue to await the AMPTP’s response to our comprehensive counter proposal package which we gave them on Saturday, addressing outstanding issues.”
Releasing a video message at the time, SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher commented on her unique negotiating style after reports said she attended negotiations holding a heart-shaped soft toy.
“I can be exactly who I am, I can lead with intellect, I can lead with wisdom, I can lead with empathy, I can be me,” she stated. “I can lead and still hold on to a little plush toy in the shape of a heart that I call ‘love.’”
Clearly, her tactics worked. The strikes have seen huge support from across the world of movies and television,with various A-listers joining working actorsand writers as they took to the picket lines outside the bases of studios and networks in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and more.
