The Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) is preparing to go on strike starting tomorrow at midnight if a deal between the union and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers cannot be reached. The current contract expired on June 30th, though both sides have agreed to extend the deadline to July 12th at midnight PT and there has been no meaningful progress toward reaching an agreement.
SAG-AFTRA members voted in favor of striking last month and since then hundreds of actors signed a letter stating they are prepared to keep their word if an acceptable deal is not reached.
Variety reports 140 top Hollywood publicity agencies held an emergency conference call requested by SAG-AFTRA leaders yesterday to discuss how to handle a possible strike. Dunan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA’s National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator was on the call, along with the Chief Contracts Officer Ray Rodriquez and Pamela Greenwalt, the union’s Marketing and Communications Chief.
“SAG-AFTRA’s National Board has the option to call a strike if the AMPTP won’t agree on a deal that bolsters performer’s careers and ensures their profession remains one that can support a dignified livelihood,” said union leaders.
One area of concern is how to deal with the San Diego Comic-Con as a number of actors have previous arrangements to participate in panels. If the union goes forward with a strike, members would no longer promote their television series and films, appear in magazines, or appear on talk shows. Basically, all productions would halt during a strike until an acceptable new contract is drafted, which has already slowed down significantly due to the ongoing writers’ strike.
The SAG-AFTRA is seeking higher pay along with more contributions to pension and healthcare funds. The union also wants studios to recalculate the residuals members are paid through streaming service revenue. In addition to altering the self-tape audition process, union members also want safeguards put in place regarding the use of AI in production.