SAG-AFTRA Members Vote Overwhelmingly 'Yes' On Strike Authorization

The Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has voted overwhelmingly in favor of a strike authorization.

The website for the biggest union in Hollywood has voted in favor of authorizing a strike ahead of upcoming negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).

This means SAG-AFTRA will be entering negotiations ahead of new TV and theatrical contract negotiations with AMPTP, which are slated to begin on June 7. The current SAG-AFTRA contracts with the AMPTP will expire at midnight on June 30, 2023.

What this means is that, as early as July 1, the National Board of SAG-AFTRA can make the move to authorize a strike, now that they've received a majority vote of the voting body ruling in favor of the strike. The strike authorization does not mean the union will definitively call for a strike, but the National Board is now free to initiate one if a new deal is not reached with the AMPTP.

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According to SAG-AFTRA's statement, 97.91% of the voting members voted "Yes" in favor of the strike. Nearly 65,000 members cast ballots for a voting percentage of 47.69% of the union's eligible votes. Per The Hollywood Reporter, about 27 percent of the union's eligible voters turned out for the vote on the union's new TV/Theatrical contracts ratification vote back in 2020, so the turnout for this vote was significantly higher.

In a statement on the union's website, SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said, "The strike authorization votes have been tabulated and the membership joined their elected leadership and negotiating committee in favor of strength and solidarity. I’m proud of all of you who voted as well as those who were vocally supportive, even if unable to vote. Everyone played a part in this achievement."

She continued, "Together we lock elbows and in unity, we build a new contract that honors our contributions in this remarkable industry, reflects the new digital and streaming business model, and brings ALL our concerns for protections and benefits into the now! Bravo SAG-AFTRA, we are in it to win it."

THR notes that in the upcoming negotiations slated to start this month, SAG-AFTRA leaders are looking to target protections against generative A.I. and improve member residuals and minimum rates in an era that's moving heavily toward streaming media. The union is also looking to improve its health plan and pension plan, along with restrictions on self-taped auditions for actors, which heavily increased during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

 SAG-AFTRA now heads into negotiations with the AMPTP while the Writers Guild of America (WGA) is already engaged in an ongoing labor strike against the latter. The WGA strike now enters its second month, with a significant deadline looming for both SAG-AFTRA and the Directors Guild of America (DGA).

Deadline reports that the DGA and the AMPTP reached a tentative new agreement earlier this week. The next step is for the new agreement to be submitted for approval by the DGA's National Board. This is scheduled for approval at a special board meeting on Tuesday, June 6. After that time, more details on the deal will be made public. The new DGA deal reportedly addressed the AI issue and includes a 76% increase in foreign residuals.

SAG-AFTRA and its members have been acting largely in solidarity with the WGA in recent weeks. And if SAG-AFTRA does declare a strike, it could potentially mean an industry-wide shutdown of scripted and filmed entertainment starting next month.

This means any active union productions would have to halt shooting. Several major productions have already been put on pause until the strike issues are resolved. With the WGA already on strike, SAG-AFTRA will now be entering negotiations with the AMPTP with considerably more leverage.

One such production was Marvel's "Blade" reboot, which had already undergone delays. As previously reported by The Blast, "The Thunderbolts" is another Marvel Studios production that was paused due to the ongoing WGA strike. It remains to be seen when paused projects will be able to resume. If SAG-AFTRA goes on strike, delays in major productions could potentially increase.