A call between Disney CEO Bob Iger and SAG-AFTRA national executive director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland has signaled a new era of negotiations between the union and Hollywood studios. The call, which took place on October 21, came after over 100 days of a SAG-AFTRA strike. During the conversation, Iger expressed the desire of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) to resume negotiations and reach a new three-year contract.
Following Iger’s call, AMPTP president Carol Lombardini reached out to Crabtree-Ireland to further discuss the possibility of returning to the bargaining table. Under pressure from members and top actors, the union quickly issued a joint press release with the AMPTP announcing the return to negotiations. The union also adjourned its biennial national convention two days early to allow its staff and negotiating team to focus on the upcoming talks.
It is expected that the AMPTP will present a new package of proposals when negotiations resume on Tuesday. The same four Hollywood leaders who attended the previous negotiations – Iger, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, and NBCUniversal Studio Group chairman and chief content officer Donna Langley – are set to return. The talks will take place at the union’s national headquarters in Los Angeles.
These recent developments have come after meetings between A-list actors, SAG-AFTRA leaders, and Hollywood studios. Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, George Clooney, Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, Laura Dern, Scarlett Johansson, Tyler Perry, Ryan Reynolds, Emma Stone, Meryl Streep, Kerry Washington, and Reese Witherspoon held several Zoom meetings with union leaders to discuss the ongoing strike and the need for a resolution. Some of these actors had already individually spoken to union leaders but decided to join forces to break the deadlock.
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Before talks broke down in October, there were reports that SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher’s negotiating style was a cause for concern among the CEOs. It was reported that Drescher used unconventional methods, such as bringing a doll and reciting Buddhist quotes, which alarmed the CEOs. However, a union source denies these allegations, stating that Drescher employs a “less contentious” approach to bargaining and tries to maintain a balanced tone in the room.
During the Zoom meetings with A-list actors, various ideas were discussed, including eliminating the $1 million dues cap on high-earning members and prioritizing residuals for lower-earning performers. These topics were then reported in the press, prompting Drescher to clarify that the union’s benefits had to remain within the contract due to federal regulations.
As negotiations progressed, some actors reached out to their studio contacts to advocate for a return to the bargaining table. Several of these actors are also major producers within the industry. Additionally, some actors began drafting a letter expressing concerns about SAG’s leadership but ultimately decided not to publicize it, fearing it could harm negotiations.
According to a source close to the studios, the decision to reach out to SAG-AFTRA on October 21 was driven by the need to salvage the 2024 movie and broadcast season and restore jobs that have been on hold during the strike. On the union side, they expected a counterproposal from the studios after making a significant change to their revenue-share proposal on October 11. This change turned it into a fee on subscribers. Crabtree-Ireland described this revision as a “huge, huge concession.”
In a message to members, SAG-AFTRA acknowledged their unity and its impact on bringing the studios back to the negotiating table. The union’s negotiating committee stated that they were ready and willing to work towards a deal that honored the sacrifice of their members.
As negotiations resume, the focus will be on the specific details of the contract language and how SAG-AFTRA’s negotiators will respond to the new proposals. One sticking point is the union’s proposal to charge streaming platforms a fee for each global subscriber. While the studios may not want to address this issue, Drescher reiterated the importance of finding a solution that reflects the changing landscape of the industry.
Hollywood, including guild members, is closely watching the negotiations unfold. The hope is that a favorable deal can be reached that benefits the union’s membership and allows the industry to get back to work.
