SAG-AFTRA Talks With AMPTP To Continue Wednesday

TV & Film

Oct 10

Members of SAG-AFTRA and leaders from the AMPTP met again on Monday, October 9. In a joint statement, they announced, “SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP held negotiations and have concluded for the day. Bargaining will continue on Wednesday, October 11, with the parties working independently on Tuesday.”

The actors’ strike began on July 14, following the WGA writer’s strike that began on May 2. The union is asking for an 11% increase in minimum rates in the first year of the new contract while the studios want to limit the increase to 5%. The union is also seeking 2% of the revenue attributed to each film and TV show on a streaming platform. The studios agreed to a limited bonus for successful streaming shows, but that didn’t satisfy the actors.

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A major concern among actors is the rise of AI technology. The union is seeking informed consent as a safeguard against the technology that could make actors’ faces and voices say and do things they never agreed to say or do. Negotiators in the performer’s guild are also seeking an increase in earnings caps for pension and health contributions, a limit to the pages assigned in self-auditions, and barring casting platforms from charging actors to access jobs.

Although the strike has dragged on for months, the recent contract approved by the WGA gives hope that members of SAG-AFTRA can return to work. The strike has affected more than just actors and performers with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting a decline of -7,000 workers in the industry. Actors and studios both want this strike to end, but they have to reach a mutual deal that benefits all parties.

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