SAG-AFTRA is back to work!
On Wednesday (November 8), it was announced that the actors union had reached a tentative deal with studios after a very successful strike. The actors union had been on the picket line for 118 days.
SAG-AFTRA reached a new three-year contract, signaling the end of the historic strike. Outlets reported that the tentative contract, “which still must be ratified by the union’s board and members, would boost minimum pay for members, increase residual payments for shows streamed online and bolster contributions to the union’s health and pension plans. It also establishes new rules for the use of artificial intelligence, a major source of concern for actors.”
The union’s negotiating committee approved the tentative deal and the strike officially came to an end on November 9.
In a statement on social media, SAG-AFTRA said:
“We are thrilled and proud to tell you that today your TV/Theatrical Negotiating Committee voted unanimously to approve a tentative agreement with the AMPTP.
As of 12:01am PT on November 9, our strike is officially suspended and all picket locations are closed. We will be in touch in the coming days with information about celebration gatherings around the country.”
The statement went on to say:
“In a contract valued at over one billion dollars, we have achieved a deal of extraordinary scope that includes ‘above-pattern’ minimum compensation increases, unprecedented provisions for consent and compensation that will protect members from the threat of AI, and for the first time establishes a streaming participation bonus. Our Pension & Health caps have been substantially raised, which will bring much needed value to our plans. In addition, the deal includes numerous improvements for multiple categories including outsize compensation increases for background performers, and critical contract provisions protecting diverse communities.
We have arrived at a contract that will enable SAG-AFTRA members from every category to build sustainable careers. Many thousands of performers now and into the future will benefit from this work.”
SAG-AFTRA also expressed gratitude to “our union siblings – the workers that power this industry – for the sacrifices they have made while supporting our strike and that of the Writers Guild of America. We stand together in solidarity and will be there for you when you need us.
Thank you all for your dedication, your commitment and your solidarity throughout this strike. It is because of YOU that these improvements became possible.”
Union members walked out on July 14 and joined the striking Writers Guild Of America members. The WGA ended their nearly 150 day strike in late September after reaching a node deal.
