After more than two and a half months, the Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and the Hollywood studios and streamers are returning to the bargaining table for negotiations. These discussions resume amid cautious optimism following the recent resolution of the writers’ strike.
With their contract having expired on June 30 and a nearly two-week extension in negotiations, the 160,000-strong actors’ union went on strike on July 14. They have since been picketing studio gates alongside the Writers Guild of America (WGA), which initiated its strike on May 2.
The negotiations led by SAG-AFTRA’s recently re-elected Fran Drescher and Duncan Crabtree-Ireland and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers chief Carol Lombardini, are set to include key industry figures such as Donna Langley of NBCUniversal, David Zaslav of Warner Bros Discovery, Ted Sarandos of Netflix, and Bob Iger of Disney.
The discussions mark the official resumption of talks, which had been conducted informally to some extent since the SAG-AFTRA strike began. Meanwhile, SAG-AFTRA members will continue picketing in Los Angeles, New York, and other locations during negotiations.
The start of these negotiations coincides with the Writers Guild of America’s voting period to ratify its tentative agreement, which runs from October 2 to 9 and is widely expected to pass.
While the recent WGA agreement provides some guidance on topics like AI and data transparency, SAG-AFTRA has distinct priorities, including wage increases, guidelines for virtual auditions, and revenue sharing. The guild seeks to share approximately 2% of streaming revenue with casts based on performance metrics. However, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers has been staunchly opposed to this proposal.
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Negotiations are expected to be challenging, with both parties seeking to find common ground and address the unique needs of their memberships. The early stages of these talks will involve “taking the temperature of the room” before delving into the details.
In addition to the ongoing negotiations with the studios, SAG-AFTRA members voted unanimously last week to authorize a strike against the video game industry, citing concerns over the use of AI and stagnant wages.
The coming weeks will be pivotal in determining the outcomes of these labor disputes, as both unions strive to secure fair agreements that address the evolving landscape of the entertainment industry.
For Reel 360 News’ full strike coverage, click here.
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