US screenwriters and actors had been on strike for months. The authors have already found an agreement with the studios. Now the actors’ union has also agreed to an agreement – including protection against AI.
After months of fighting for better wages and safer working conditions, members of the US actors union SAG-AFTRA have overwhelmingly approved an agreement with the studios, finally ending their strike.
As SAG-AFTRA reported, 78 percent of members who took part in the vote were in favor of the multi-year contract. 22 percent voted against it. A simple majority of members was required for the vote. According to the union, 38 percent of members cast their votes.
More money and protection from AI
It was a “golden age” for SAG-AFTRA, said its president Fran Drescher. “Our union has never been as strong as it is today.” The union represents the interests of around 160,000 actors, stunt people, dancers and other performers in the film business. Only a few of them are stars with millions in income.
The agreement includes more than $1 billion (equivalent to 930 million euros) in new pay and benefits as well as protecting actors from studios’ use of artificial intelligence, the union said.
The actors had already ended their month-long strike about a month ago after reaching a preliminary agreement with entertainment companies such as Disney, Universal and Netflix on minimum salaries and better insurance conditions. However, the agreement still had to be approved by the union’s board of directors and the members.
Screenwriters agreed in October
The US screenwriters had also previously gone on strike. The studios reached an agreement with their WGA union at the beginning of October.
For the first time in more than 60 years, members of Hollywood’s writers and actors guild went on strike at the same time for more money and better working conditions. The strike had delayed the production of films and series for months.
Katharina Wilhelm, ARD Los Angeles, tagesschau, December 6th, 2023 9:01 a.m