SAG-AFTRA contract ratified bringing end to longest actors’ strike in history
SAG-AFTRA contract ratified, bringing end to longest actors’ strike in history (Photo: Unsplash.com)
Members of the SAG-AFTRA actors' union have approved the newly negotiated contract, with an impressive 78.33% voting in favor, bringing an end to the 118-day strike.
The guild reports a voter turnout of 38.15%, with 21.67% voting "No."
The contract is valued at $1.11 billion, more than three times the value of the previous one.
SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher and National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland praised the contract's gains. “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,” they concluded.
The new deal includes minimum wage raises and AI protections for performers.
Some members expressed concerns about AI provisions, but the majority approved the deal. AI protections include consent for digital scans and using digital scans of deceased actors with estate consent.
The deal also covers pension and health plans, self-taped auditions, makeup and hairstyling, requirements for intimacy coordinators, and more. Actors will receive access to a "streaming participation bonus" of $40 million annually.
The contract runs until June 30, 2026.
SAG-AFTRA strike
American actors’ union SAG-AFTRA engaged in a strike from July 14 to November 9, 2023. This labor dispute involved conflicts with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) and marked the longest strike in SAG-AFTRA history.
The strike was spearheaded by shifts in the industry brought about by streaming and its impact on residuals. Additionally, the protest was driven by the emergence of other technologies such as AI and digital recreation.
After multiple starts and stops, striking actors resumed negotiations on October 2. Talks restarted following the Writers Guild of America's return to work on September 24.
In early November, studios presented their "last, best, and final offer," but key issues like AI usage remained unresolved. On November 8, the actors' union announced a tentative agreement, with AI protections being one of the final matters resolved before the deal was revealed.
