SAG-AFTRA Officially Calls Strike As President Fran Drescher Says Union 'Demands Respect'

At lunchtime Thursday, union leadership announced a strike beginning midnight.

Where things stand

The Writers Guild of America has been on strike since May, protesting what members say are "gig economy" conditions created by Hollywood studios and streamers, represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). The Directors Guild of America reached a deal for a new contract with the AMPTP in June.

A federal mediator entered discussions with SAG-AFTRA before the midnight deadline Wednesday, but to no avail.

The writers and actors have not been on strike at the same time since 1960.

At a press conference at SAG AFTRA headquarters on Wilshire Boulevard Thursday morning, Guild president Fran Drescher said "our heart bleeds we had to make this decision but ... it's only going to get worse. We were forced into it."

In a passionate speech, the former The Nanny star said, "It weighed heavily on us but at some point ... you have to say 'No, we’re not going to take this anymore. You people are crazy. What are you doing?'"

Earlier, the guild released a statement saying that film and TV studios and streamers have "refused to acknowledge that enormous shifts in the industry have had a detrimental impact on those who perform labor for the studios."

Actors have also supported the ongoing writers strike, which is into its third month now.

"The longer this goes on, the deeper the economic impact, not just on the struck companies, but on all the other kinds of businesses that serve them, particularly here in L.A.," Rebecca Keegan, The Hollywood Reporter's senior film editor, told LAist.

Drescher's statement went on to call the response from the AMPTP to the union's proposals "insulting and disrespectful of our massive contributions to this industry. 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."

Read the strike notice to members

The issues at stake

SAG-AFTRA represents about 160,000 actors and last month 98% of members voted to authorize a strike. The union and the AMPTP are fighting over the use of artificial intelligence and streaming residuals, among other issues. A media blackout agreed to by both sides had limited information about negotiations.

Keegan said the looming strike affects several upcoming events for the industry.

"The Emmy Awards, the Venice and Telluride and Toronto Film Festivals. What those rules mean for those events is that they will have to unfold largely without actors, which means that some of them won't unfold at all. They may be delayed," Keegan said.

What's next

The actors officially go on strike Thursday at midnight and pickets will begin Friday.