Actors Gear Up for Inaugural Strike in Over Four Decades

Negotiations between Hollywood film and TV actors have come to a standstill, leaving the possibility of a strike imminent. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) will vote on whether to declare a strike soon. If the strike occurs, it will be the first actors’ strike since 1980 and the first simultaneous strike involving actors and writers since 1960, according to Deadline. The ongoing strike by the Writers Guild of America has already disrupted film and TV production, as noted by Variety.

In a statement, SAG-AFTRA stated that after four weeks of negotiations, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) “remains unwilling to offer a fair deal on the key issues that are essential to SAG-AFTRA members.” The union’s negotiating committee unanimously recommended strike action to the national board. The AMPTP expressed its disappointment with the union’s decision to walk away from negotiations. Last month, union members voted overwhelmingly in favor of authorizing a strike if a new contract wasn’t reached by the expiration of the old one on June 30. The deadline was extended by 12 days during negotiations.

Fran Drescher, president of the union, criticized the AMPTP for refusing to engage meaningfully on certain topics and for disrespecting the union’s important proposals. The negotiations include discussions on the unregulated use of artificial intelligence and the impact of streaming services on residual pay, reports the AP. Matt Damon highlighted the significance of residual payments for actors, as it affects their eligibility for health insurance. He stated that if residual payments decrease, so does their access to healthcare, which he considers unacceptable. (Read more actors strike stories.)