All the information included in this article is true as of 14 July 2023. The Indiependent will keep you updated on the SAG strike throughout it’s duration.
SAG-AFTRA will be joining the WGA on strike after their television, theatrical (film), and streaming contracts with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) expired at 11.59pm Pacific Time on 12 July without a deal. The strike begins at 12.01am on 14 July.
After negotiations ended the negotiating committee, including union President Fran Drescher and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, voted unanimously to recommend a strike. The strike was then officially called at 12pm (Pacific Time) on 13 July after the national board voted to approve it.
In their statement SAG-AFTRA said the AMPTP “remains unwilling to offer a fair deal on the key issues that are essential to SAG-AFTRA members.” President Fran Drescher added that “the AMPTP’s responses to the union’s most important proposals have been insulting and disrespectful of our massive contributions to this industry. The companies have refused to meaningfully engage on some topics and on others completely stonewalled us. Until they do negotiate in good faith, we cannot begin to reach a deal.”
The AMPTP responded with their own statement, “We are deeply disappointed that SAG-AFTRA has decided to walk away from 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. Rather than continuing to negotiate, SAG-AFTRA has put us on a course that will deepen the financial hardship for thousands who depend on the industry for their livelihoods.”
The strike will have worldwide ramifications due to SAG-AFTRA’s Global Rule One policy which means union members are required to work under SAG-AFTRA agreements regardless of where production is taking place. The only exception within the US is soap operas which are governed under the National Code of Fair Practice for Network Television Broadcasting which is negotiated directly with the Big 4 networks rather than through the AMPTP.
Preparations for the strike have been underway since 7 July with SAG-AFTRA tweeting photos of members making picket signs captioned “if a strike becomes necessary, we’re ready.” This strike will also mark the first time that the actors’ union and the WGA have been on strike together since 1960, when Ronald Reagan was President of the Screen Actors’ Guild.
The WGA strike has been underway for 74 days and earlier this week an anonymous studio executive told Deadline that “the endgame is to allow things to drag on until union members start losing their apartments and losing their houses.” This statement has been publicly disavowed by the AMPTP who said “these anonymous people are not speaking on behalf of the AMPTP or member companies, who are committed to reaching a deal and getting our industry back to work.”
There have been no negotiations between the AMPTP and WGA since the strike began on 2 May.
Words by Cerys Gardner
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