Hollywood’s film and television actors are heading to the picket lines after failed negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
SAG-AFTRA, the union representing the actors, said Thursday that its National Board has voted unanimously to issue a strike order. The strike will begin at midnight.
Fran Drescher, who serves as the union’s president, said during the press conference she couldn’t believe how the union was being treated.
“We are the victims here. We are being victimized by a very greedy entity,” she said. “I am shocked by the way the people we have been in business with are treating us. I cannot believe it, quite frankly, how far apart we are on certain things. How they plead poverty, that they’re losing money left and right when giving hundreds of millions of dollars to their CEOs. It is disgusting. Shame on them!”
Drescher told members it was time to take a stand.
“This is a moment of history that is a moment of truth,” she said. “If we don’t stand tall right now, we are all going to be in trouble. We are all going to be in jeopardy of being replaced by machines and big business who cares more about Wall Street than you and your family.”
After SAG-AFTRA’s announcement, AMPTP released the following statement:
The AMPTP presented a deal that offered historic pay and residual increases, substantially higher caps on pension and health contributions, audition protections, shortened series option periods, and a groundbreaking AI proposal that protects actors’ digital likenesses for SAG-AFTRA members. A strike is certainly not the outcome we hoped for as studios cannot operate
without the performers that bring our TV shows and films to life. The Union has regrettably chosen a path that will lead to financial hardship for countless thousands of people who depend on the industry.
The union’s contract expired 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. A federal mediator was brought in Wednesday to help with the contract negotiation.
"SAG-AFTRA negotiated in good faith and was eager to reach a deal that sufficiently addressed performer needs, but the AMPTP's responses to the union's most important proposals have been insulting and disrespectful of our massive contributions to this industry,” SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said in a statement hours before the press conference.
"The companies have refused to meaningfully engage on some topics and on others completely stonewalled us. Until they do negotiate in good faith, we cannot begin to reach a deal. We have no choice but to move forward in unity, and on behalf of our membership, with a strike recommendation to our National Board. The board will discuss the issue this morning and will make its decision."
In a statement, AMPTP claimed SAG-AFTRA was the one who “decided to walk away from negotiations.”
"This is the Union's choice, not ours. In doing so, it has dismissed our offer of historic pay and residual increases, substantially higher caps on pension and health contributions, audition protections, shortened series option periods, a groundbreaking AI proposal that protects actors' digital likenesses, and more,” AMPTP said. “Rather than continuing to negotiate, SAG-AFTRA has put us on a course that will deepen the financial hardship for thousands who depend on the industry for their livelihoods."
The actors join the Writers Guild on the picket line for the first time since 1960. SAG-AFTRA also went on strike in 1986.
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