SAG-AFTRA, has officially ratified its contract with the studios on December 5th, 2023, marking the conclusion of a significant strike in the industry. This agreement, reached almost a month after initial negotiations, sees 78% of the union’s 160,000 members approving the deal, signaling the end of a tumultuous period in Hollywood.
Key achievements for actors in this deal include pay raises, safeguards regarding the use of artificial intelligence, and additional bonuses linked to streaming services. The union, representing a diverse range of actors, praises the agreement for its comprehensive benefits, valued at over $1 billion.
The deal was negotiated between SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), representing major companies like Walt Disney and Netflix. Following a tentative agreement in early November, the union’s leadership swiftly moved to ratify the deal, culminating in the recent member approval.
This ratification marks a significant turning point after a challenging time that saw the industry grind to a halt, impacting the livelihoods of many workers. The agreement promises immediate wage increases of 11% for background actors and 7% for others.
A notable victory for the union is the establishment of strict guidelines for the use of AI, including the requirement of actor consent for creating digital replicas and compensation based on the replica’s on-screen roles. Additionally, the agreement safeguards background performers from unauthorized use of their digital replicas.
The comprehensive contract also introduces a $40 million fund for compensating performers for their work’s streaming views, mandates intimacy coordinators for scenes involving nudity or sex, and includes provisions to ensure appropriate hair and makeup services for all performers, addressing long-standing issues of racial discrimination in this area.
This year’s strike, paralleling a writers’ strike that secured similar protections, stands as the longest work stoppage in the history of US film and television acting.
For more details, go to: https://www.sagaftra.org
