SAG-AFTRA joined WGA on the picket lines on July 14. On July 13, union president Fran Drescher said the artists were “being victimized by a very greedy entity,” during her news conference announcing the strike.
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents the studios, claimed it offered SAG-AFTRA “a deal that offered historic pay”, among other benefits.
On July 17, SAG-AFTRA posted a statement on its website accusing the companies represented by AMPTP, including Netflix, Apple, Disney, and Amazon, of being “committed to prioritizing shareholders and Wall Street.”
“We moved on some things, but from day one they wouldn’t meaningfully engage on the most critical issues,” it said.
It also shared the proposals they brought up during negotiations and included the studios’ counteroffers and responses.
The following is a breakdown of some of the key issues:
Note: Any statements that are italicized and have quotes around them are as worded by the union in the proposal.
Wages:
1.) Minimums
What SAG-AFTRA wanted:
“11% general wage increase in year one, 4% in year two, and 4% in year three.”
Studio counter:
“5% in year one, 4% in year two, and 3.5% in year three.”
2.) New Media Revenue Sharing:
What SAG-AFTRA wanted:
Casts share in the revenue that is generated when their performances are on a streaming platform.
Studio response:
“Rejected.”
3.) Wage invasion due to advance payment of residuals
What SAG-AFTRA wanted:
Restrict how much a performer’s salary is reduced to the advance payment of residuals and instead disguise it as a part of the performer’s initial compensation. Also provide transparency in a separate residual check that is given to union.
Studio counter:
“Increased the protective threshold figures in the contract and matched terms agreed to by Netflix in 2019, but refused the union’s request for transparency with a separate residual check.”
Healthcare:
1.) Pension and Health and Retirement
What SAG-AFTRA wanted:
a.) Increase Pension and Health contribution caps that have continued to be inactive for over 40 years.
b.) Give pensions to background actors under 14 years old.
c.) Address how funding is being assigned between pension Plan and Retirement Fund.
Studio counter:
a.) “Countered with insufficient increases to the caps.”
b.) “Maintained that background actors under 14 years old should not earn pension contributions in the West Coast Zone because they ‘are not serious about staying in the entertainment industry.’”
c.) “The parties have tentatively agreed to suspend the current allocation methodology while they study alternatives.”
Artificial Intelligence:
What SAG-AFTRA wanted:
“Establish a comprehensive set of provisions to protect human-created work and require informed consent and fair compensation when a ‘digital replica’ is made of a performer, or when their voice, likeness, or performance will be substantially changed using AI.”
Studio counter:
“Failed to address many vital concerns, leaving principal performers and background actors vulnerable to having most of their work replaced by digital replicas.”
In a statement, AMPTP claimed SAG-AFTA “mischaracterized” negotiations, adding that it failed to include “the proposals offered verbally to SAG-AFRTA leadership,” including a deal reportedly worth more than $1 billion.
You can read the full proposal here.
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