Sag-Aftra reached an agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and TV Producers (AMPTP) in a unanimous vote yesterday.
US actors are expected to resume work after their union agreed a tentative deal with Hollywood studios to end a four-month strike. The deal came after parties had resumed talks last week following stalled negotiations in early October.
As members are aware, Sag- Aftra represents approximately 160,000 members and has been on strike since July 14, causing major disruption and knock-on effects for those in the AD branches of the film and TV industry, and in countries like the UK as well as the US.
Sag-Aftra chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland told Reuters there were "definitely some tears, a lot of big smiles, a lot of hugs" when the agreement was reached.
The three-year contract would "make a long-term difference for the future of our members in this industry", he said.
“In a contract valued at over $1bn, we have achieved a deal of extraordinary scope,” the union said in a public statement. The union also stated there were larger-than-expected increases in minimum compensation, a first-time “streaming participation bonus”, and “unprecedented provisions for consent and compensation that will protect members from the threat of AI”.
As a Guild, we have made the appropriate changes to ensure we can welcome previous members back with no joining fee, if they return to AD Guild by the end of January 2024. We understand this has been a challenging time for members both financially and professionally, and hope to support members as we look towards a strong and stable year ahead.
