The Information
The union that represents greater than 160,000 movie and tv actors voted on Monday night time to authorize a strike, two days earlier than it’s to start negotiations on a brand new labor take care of the Hollywood studios. The end result from members of the SAG-AFTRA union, with 98 p.c authorizing a strike, was anticipated, and it got here throughout the sixth week of a strike by Hollywood writers and only a day after the Administrators Guild of America tentatively agreed to a brand new contract.
“Collectively we lock elbows, and in unity we construct a brand new contract that honors our contributions on this exceptional business, displays the brand new digital and streaming enterprise mannequin and brings ALL our issues for protections and advantages into the now!” Fran Drescher, the president of the actors’ union, mentioned in an announcement.
About 65,000 members forged ballots, or 48 p.c of eligible voters. The actors’ present settlement with the Alliance of Movement Image and Tv Producers, which bargains on behalf of the studios, expires on June 30.
Why It Issues: The actors have the identical worries because the writers.
Lots of the actors’ issues echo what the Writers Guild of America is combating for: increased wages; elevated residual funds for his or her work, particularly for content material on streaming providers; and protections in opposition to utilizing actors’ likenesses with out permission as a part of the improved talents of synthetic intelligence. Based on the writers, the studios supplied little greater than “annual conferences to debate” synthetic intelligence, they usually refused to cut price over limits on the know-how.
The Administrators Guild, in distinction, mentioned on Sunday that it had reached a “groundbreaking settlement confirming that A.I. is just not an individual and that generative A.I. can’t change the duties carried out by members.” Particulars about what that meant weren’t revealed.
Background: It has been a very long time because the final actors’ strike.
The final time the actors went on strike was in 2000, in a dispute over industrial pay. The strike lasted shut to 6 months.
What’s Subsequent: Negotiations start on Wednesday.
With negotiations anticipated to start on Wednesday, SAG-AFTRA is bullish about what this strike authorization means. “We’re clearly coming in from a place of energy, however we’re not seeking to strike,” mentioned Duncan Crabtree-Eire, the union’s chief negotiator. “We’re right here to make a deal.” He added: “However we’re additionally not going to just accept something lower than what our members deserve. If a strike is important to realize that, we’re ready.”
The Alliance of Movement Image and Tv Producers mentioned in an announcement that “we’re approaching these negotiations with the purpose of attaining a brand new settlement that’s helpful to SAG-AFTRA members and the business general.”
