Writers picketing outside of significant studios may soon have company. A successor agreement between the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) was not reached as the deadline hit 11:59 PM last night.
With that, SAG-AFTRA’s Negotiating Committee has recommended that the union strike. The National Board will meet today at 9 AM to discuss its options. If the union, which represents 160,000 members, does decide to strike it will begin officially on Monday, July 17 according to Reel 360 News sources.
“After more than four weeks of negotiations, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) — the entity that represents major studios and streamers, including Amazon, Apple, Disney, NBCUniversal, Netflix, Paramount, Sony, and Warner Bros Discovery — remains unwilling to offer a fair deal on the key issues that you told us are important to you. Because of this, we’ve called for a meeting with our National Board this morning to vote on a strike order,” Union President Fran Drescher and Negotiating Lead Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said in a statement.”
The statement continued, “From the time negotiations began on June 7, the members of our Negotiating Committee and our staff team have spent many long days, weekends and holidays working to achieve a deal that protects you, the working actors and performers on whom this industry relies. As you know, over the past decade, your compensation has been severely eroded by the rise of the streaming ecosystem. Furthermore, artificial intelligence poses an existential threat to creative professions, and all actors and performers deserve contract language that protects them from having their identity and talent exploited without consent and pay. Despite our team’s dedication to advocating on your behalf, the AMPTP has refused to acknowledge that enormous shifts in the industry and economy have had a detrimental impact on those who perform labor for the studios.
Though we’ve engaged in negotiations in good faith and remained eager to reach a deal that sufficiently addressed performer concerns, the AMPTP’s responses to our proposals have not been adequate.
We will update you immediately after the National Board’s vote and information will be provided on how the strike impacts your ability to work. Details on picket times and locations will be provided as well. Please check your inbox.
Our ninety-year history is a testament to what can be achieved through our conviction and unity. For the future of our profession, we stand together.”
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AMPTP released a terse statement of its own blaming the union and stating it is, “deeply disappointed” that SAG-AFTRA wasn’t extending negotiations. “This is the Union’s choice, not ours. In doing so, it has dismissed our offer of historic pay and residual increases, substantially higher caps on pension and health contributions, audition protections, shortened series option periods, a groundbreaking AI proposal that protects actors’ digital likenesses, and more,” the statement continued. It added that “SAG-AFTRA has put us on a course that will deepen the financial hardship for thousands who depend on the industry for their livelihoods.”
If prolonged, the strike could significantly impact the entertainment industry still recovering from the pandemic. Productions of films, television shows, and streaming content have already been delayed or halted, due to the Writers Strike.
The negotiations began on June 7, 2023, and the initial expiration date for the union’s film and TV contracts package was June 30. However, both labor and management decided to extend the talks until July 12 to continue their efforts to reach a favorable contract agreement.
Initially, the negotiations were described as “extremely productive” by Drescher and Crabtree-Ireland. However, in recent days, the tone of the discussions took a turn. SAG-AFTRA began preparing major PR firms and hundreds of agents on potential strike rules, while high-level executives from Warner Bros.-Discovery, Disney, and other companies had discussions where the idea of involving a federal mediator was raised.
The industry is now awaiting the official decision of the SAG-AFTRA National Board on whether to call for a work stoppage, which would be a significant moment in the history of entertainment labor. If a strike were to occur, it would be the first time since 1960 that both writers and actors simultaneously participated in a work stoppage, during which Ronald Reagan served as president of SAG-AFTRA.
SAG-AFTRA’s potential decision to go on strike against the AMPTP reflects the growing demands for fair treatment and improved working conditions in the entertainment industry. The union’s efforts highlight the changing landscape of the industry and the need for compensation structures that reflect new platforms and distribution models. As negotiations continue, the future of the strike remains uncertain, and the entertainment industry braces itself for a major storm.
The union will hold a press conference today, Thursday, July 13, at 12 noon PT at SAG-AFTRA Plaza in Los Angeles, following the conclusion of the National Board vote.
