The last report from SAG-AFTRA’s negotiations with the AMPTP was unsatisfactory, and actors have been on strike since July.
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers’ negotiations with SAG-AFTRA have handed another blow to actors eager to resume their careers following a months-long hiatus brought on by the strike. Even though the WGA had ratified their own settlement after their 148-day strike, talks between SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP had started last week and a deal was beginning to look more and more feasible. Unfortunately, things have now taken a turn for the worse.
After a negotiation session on Wednesday, the AMPTP, which brokers on behalf of studios, announced it was suspending talks with the union, which represents over 100,000 actors, because they were “no longer moving us in a productive direction,” the New York Times reported.
It is a major setback for Hollywood production, which has been on a standstill since May, when the since-concluded writer’s strike began, and who after actors went on strike in July, saw the first time both actors and writers were simultaneously on strike since 1960.
The two strikes were unrelated though similar, with both industries largely arguing over better pay, particularly from streaming giants and their residuals, as well as better regulation over AI use of their likeness.
During a strike, actors are barred from working and promoting their projects – save for those with interim agreements – which means no red carpets, no auditions, no social media posts concerning their movies or television shows, no talk show appearances, and more.
SAG-AFTRA released a statement following the unsuccessful discussions in which they expressed their dissatisfaction and accused the AMPTP of using “bullying tactics” and making “shockingly” lower counteroffers. Part of the statement was as follows: “It is with deep sorrow that we report that the CEOs of the industry have left the negotiating table after declining to counter our most recent offer. Even though they suddenly submitted an offer last week that was worth less than they had first proposed before the strike started, we have been negotiating with them in good faith.
They further wrote: “These companies refuse to protect performers from being replaced by AI, they refuse to increase your wages to keep up with inflation, and they refuse to share a tiny portion of the immense revenue YOUR work generates for them.
“Instead they use bully tactics,” they claimed, adding: “Just tonight, they intentionally misrepresented to the press the cost of the above proposal – overstating it by 60%. They have done the same with A.I., claiming to protect performer consent, but continuing to demand “consent” on the first day of employment for use of a performer’s digital replica for an entire cinematic universe (or any franchise project).”
Ultimately, they maintained: “Our resolve is unwavering. Join us on picket lines and at solidarity events around the country and let your voices be heard. One day longer. One day stronger. As long as it takes.”