14-7-2023 (HOLLYWOOD) The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), representing approximately 160,000 actors and industry workers, declared a strike on Thursday, resulting in the first industry-wide shutdown of the U.S. entertainment sector in over sixty years.
At a press conference, the union’s national board unanimously voted in favor of the strike, which is scheduled to commence at midnight on Thursday, followed by picketing starting Friday morning.
SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher expressed deep regret at the necessity of the strike, stating that members of the union were being exploited by a highly avaricious entity.
The union has instructed all SAG-AFTRA members to cease providing services and performing work covered by the TV/Theatrical Contracts.
Drescher and the union’s chief negotiator, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, criticized the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), representing major studios and streamers such as Amazon, Apple, Disney, NBCUniversal, Netflix, Paramount, Sony, and Warner Bros Discovery, for failing to offer a fair deal on crucial issues outlined by the union.
Despite engaging in negotiations in good faith and expressing a willingness to address performer concerns, the union’s proposals were met with inadequate responses from the AMPTP.
In response, the AMPTP issued a press release expressing disappointment with the strike, highlighting the fact that studios depend on performers to bring TV shows and films to life. The AMPTP stated that it had offered a contract that included historic pay and residual increases, higher caps on pension and health contributions, audition protections, shortened series option periods, and a groundbreaking AI proposal to protect actors’ digital likenesses.
Disney CEO Bob Iger criticized the unions, calling their demands unrealistic and predicting detrimental effects on the industry as a whole. He expressed concern about collateral damage to regional economies due to the significant scale of the entertainment business.
This is the first time since 1960 that Hollywood has experienced two industry-wide strikes simultaneously, and the first actors’ strike since 1980. The SAG-AFTRA strike follows the ongoing strike initiated by the Writers Guild of America in May, involving its 11,500 members, which has already halted production on numerous projects.
News outlets nationwide are covering the strike, with the Los Angeles Times reporting that it broadens the scope of labor unrest in an industry already facing multiple challenges. The New York Times highlighted that the strike brings the $134 billion American movie and television industry to a standstill, driven by concerns over pay and the dominance of technology.
This historic event marks the first time in 63 years that both writers and actors have united in strike action to demand improved compensation and working conditions. The Writers Guild of America expressed solidarity with SAG-AFTRA and emphasized their joint commitment to shaping a fair and progressive future for the entertainment industry.
