SAG-AFTRA
There are discussions within the SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee regarding the latest offer from the studios. The conversation could lead to a final union-side vote on the deal.
Following ongoing discussions about the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers’ recent proposal, the negotiating team convened on Wednesday at approximately 11 a.m. The timeline for a conclusive vote on the deal remained uncertain. One union-side source indicated that the group was then voting on the shape of the final package to be sent to AMPTP president Carol Lombardini for approval. The union side emphasized that one final adjustment on consent over generative AI would be sent to AMPTP, which is not expected to be a deal-breaker.
After the negotiating committee, a group of 17 voting members and 17 alternates operating on a basis of general consensus, finalizes their votes on the pact, they will announce their support to members, according to a separate union-side source.
There is optimism among several sources that the final vote and a deal could take place on Wednesday. Sources with knowledge of the negotiations expressed that SAG leadership expects the negotiating committee to unanimously support the deal reached with the AMPTP.
On Tuesday, after 10 hours of discussions about the latest deal from the companies, the negotiating committee reported to members that night, saying, “We appreciate your patience and support while we finish our work.”
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO, David Zaslav, referred to the studio offer as “last and final” during an earnings call on Tuesday and stated that it “met virtually all of the union’s goals.” He emphasized the need for creative partners to feel valued and rewarded, expressing eagerness for both sides to continue telling great stories. Disney CEO Bob Iger, in a CNBC interview the same day, expressed optimism about resolving the actors’ deal soon and highlighted the industry’s focus on preserving the 2024 movie slate.
However, the negotiating committee’s vote is just one step in a larger process. According to the SAG-AFTRA constitution, all national multi-employer collective bargaining agreements — such as the TV/theatrical deal — have to be approved by the union’s national board and then ratified by its membership to take effect.
Kim Masters and Rebecca Keegan contributed reporting.
