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A Video Game Strike Could Be Next For Actors
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SAG-AFTRA
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Topline:
Actors union members voted overwhelmingly to give SAG-AFTRA authorization for a strike on the Interactive Media Agreement as negotiators hit the table this week. The union is asking for protections around artificial intelligence, wage increases and informed consent for use of digital replicas, among other demands.
Aren't actors already on strike? They are. This would expand the strike to work included under the Interactive (Video Game) Media Agreement, which is a separate contract. Today’s move doesn’t ensure a strike, but allows the union to have “a member-approved strike authorization in hand when bargaining resumes on Sept. 26.”
Voter turnout: “34,687 members cast ballots, representing a voting percentage of 27.47% of eligible voters,” SAG-AFTRA said in a news release. Of those who turned out, about 98% voted in favor of authorization.
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The quote: SAG-AFTRA Chief Contracts Officer Ray Rodriguez said in a statement that video game actors faced many of the same issues that film and TV actors do, including “exploitative uses of AI and lagging wages.”
“This strike authorization makes an emphatic statement that we must reach an agreement that will fairly compensate these talented performers, provide common-sense safety measures, and allow them to work with dignity. Our members’ livelihoods depend on it,” Rodriguez said.
The companies: Game companies facing a possible strike include major developers like Activision, Electronic Arts and Epic Games. “We will continue to negotiate in good faith to reach an agreement that reflects the important contributions of SAG-AFTRA-represented performers in video games. We have reached tentative agreements on over half of the proposals and are optimistic we can find a resolution at the bargaining table,” Audrey Cooling , a spokesperson for the video game producers party to the Interactive Media Agreement, wrote in an email to LAist.
What’s next: In a statement to members, SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said: “... As we head to the negotiating table with this strike authorization in hand, we are hopeful that we can reach an equitable agreement for all our members who work in video games.”
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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