The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) is making moves to maximise their bargaining leverage ahead of upcoming contract negotiations. The union’s negotiating committee approved holding a strike authorisation vote, which aims to ensure that “all our ducks are in a row should the need present itself,” President Fran Drescher said in a press release.
Although the vote does not mean that a strike is guaranteed, it does allow the SAG-AFTRA board to call for one if deemed necessary when the union’s contract expires on 30 June. The vote concludes on 5 June, and the union currently represents over 160,000 entertainment and media professionals.
SAG-AFTRA has not gone on strike since its merger in 2012, and the last strike against film and TV studios took place in 1980. A successful strike authorisation vote could have major consequences for the industry, particularly as the Writers Guild of America began their strike on 1 May.
The SAG-AFTRA board recommended that the vote be authorised, citing increasing difficulties in earning a living as a professional performer due to inflation and the growing streaming ecosystem. They are also concerned about unreasonable corporate profits and executive pay at studios, and the unchecked use of artificial intelligence, which they say creates an incredibly difficult outlook for working actors.
SAG-AFTRA has stated their support of WGA members in contract negotiations with Hollywood studios and urged “streamers and other employers” to tackle “fair and equitable wages and working conditions.” The WGA is demanding compensation reflective of the rise of streaming TV as well as better benefits. Their current contract with the same group as SAG-AFTRA, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, is set to expire on 1 May.
In solidarity with the WGA, the Teamsters Local 399, a union representing motion picture industry workers, pledged not to cross writers’ picket lines if a strike does take place. The Directors Guild of America is also involved in industry negotiations.
The upcoming negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers will begin on 7 June. A successful strike authorisation vote by SAG-AFTRA could result in a strike at midnight on 30 June, but at this stage, nothing is certain.
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