The negotiations between the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) have brought some of Hollywood’s top leaders back to the bargaining table. According to The Hollywood Reporter, executives including Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, Disney CEO Bob Iger, and NBCUniversal Studio Group chairman and chief content officer Donna Langley will be attending Monday’s negotiating session at the SAG-AFTRA national headquarters.
The presence of these industry leaders raises hopes that a deal can be reached quickly, as their involvement was crucial in the recent negotiations with the Writers Guild of America (WGA). In fact, the presence of Sarandos, Zaslav, Iger, and Langley during the WGA negotiations was “essential” in reaching a tentative deal, according to WGA negotiating committee co-chair Chris Keyser. Typically, labor relations executives handle negotiations for top companies along with AMPTP staffers, but the involvement of CEOs in the negotiations signaled a serious and meaningful approach to addressing the issues brought to the table by the WGA.
Similar to the WGA negotiations, SAG-AFTRA has chosen to host the negotiations at its Los Angeles offices, which deviates from the usual location at the AMPTP’s conference room inside the Sherman Oaks Galleria shopping mall. This change of venue levels the playing field and removes the home-court advantage that the AMPTP usually enjoys. By hosting the negotiations at their own offices, SAG-AFTRA is taking a different approach to these talks, just as the WGA did in 2023.
Another noticeable difference in these negotiations is the absence of Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service mediators. Previously, two mediators were present before the union called a strike in July, as requested by the AMPTP. However, this time around, no mediators will be present at Monday’s meeting. SAG-AFTRA initially bristled at the AMPTP’s request for federal intervention, but eventually agreed to a single day of mediation.
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The actors’ strike has now been ongoing for 80 days, causing production shutdowns throughout the summer. This strike followed the writers’ strike, which concluded on September 26 following a tentative deal. The industry is anxiously waiting to see if the actors’ strike can be resolved on a similar timeline.
Despite the ongoing strike, the SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee urges its members not to lose momentum and encourages them to continue showing support through picket lines and speaking out about the union’s top issues. The committee emphasizes the importance of staying united and persistent until a favorable agreement is reached.
In conclusion, the presence of top Hollywood leaders at the negotiating table raises hope for a swift resolution to the actors’ strike. By hosting negotiations at their own offices and excluding mediators, both SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP are approaching these talks differently than in the past. The industry eagerly awaits updates on the progress of these negotiations and hopes for a timely agreement that benefits all parties involved.
