The possibility of a SAG-AFTRA strike in the entertainment industry is becoming increasingly likely, as the deadline for the expiration of the union’s film and television contract has passed without a deal. The SAG-AFTRA National Board is set to meet to officially decide whether to call a work stoppage, but the union has already expressed its frustration with the lack of progress in negotiations.
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents major studios and streamers including Amazon, Apple, Disney, NBCUniversal, Netflix, Paramount, Sony, and Warner Bros. Discovery, has been unwilling to offer a fair deal on key issues that are important to SAG-AFTRA members. This has led the negotiating committee to unanimously recommend a strike.
The negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP have been ongoing for over a month, with a federal mediator from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service present during the talks. Despite their intervention, a compromise could not be reached, leading to the possibility of a strike.
If a strike were to occur, it would have a significant impact on the already struggling entertainment industry. Currently, there is a writers’ strike taking place, and a SAG-AFTRA strike would further disrupt physical production with union performers. Productions that have not already been shut down by the writers’ strike would be in jeopardy, and already-delayed projects may face further delays as the AMPTP would need to come to an agreement with both the writers’ and actors’ guilds.
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A “double strike” featuring work stoppages from both the writers and actors would be the first of its kind since 1960 when Ronald Reagan was president of SAG-AFTRA. This would be a historic event in entertainment labor history and would raise the stakes of this summer’s negotiation cycle.
SAG-AFTRA’s negotiations began on June 7 and were initially extended until July 12 to allow for more time to reach a fair agreement. However, as negotiations progressed, the tone turned more contentious. SAG-AFTRA began preparing for a potential strike by informing PR firms and agents about strike rules, while high-level executives from major studios held calls to discuss the possibility of bringing in a federal mediator.
Now, the industry is waiting for the official decision from the SAG-AFTRA National Board on whether to call a work stoppage. This decision will have significant implications for the entertainment industry and will shape the outcomes of the ongoing negotiations.
In conclusion, a SAG-AFTRA strike appears almost certain, as negotiations have not resulted in a fair deal for the union’s members. The entertainment industry is already facing challenges due to a writers’ strike, and a strike from actors would further disrupt production. The decision of the SAG-AFTRA National Board will mark a historic moment in labor history and will have a significant impact on the industry.
