SAG-AFTRA Actors' Strike Officially Ends with Approval of New Deal
The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has officially ended its 118-day strike by ratifying a new deal with studios. The new deal secures over $1 billion in gains for SAG-AFTRA members, along with the union's first-ever protections around AI technology.
After 118 days of striking, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has officially ended its strike by ratifying a new deal with studios. The strike began in July, with the actors union objecting to the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers' offer for a new deal deemed insufficient.
The strike came to a tentative close in early November when SAG and the AMPTP reached a deal, but the ratification vote didn't begin until a week later. Deadline reports that SAG-AFTRA members have approved the deal and thus ended the strike. 78.33% of ballots voted in favor of the deal, which is well over the 50% + 1 majority required to ratify it. According to SAG, 38.15% of members voted, a notable increase from past years.
The new deal secures over $1 billion in gains for SAG-AFTRA members, along with the union's first-ever protections around AI technology. One of the actors' main points during the strike was preventing studios from using AI to replace performers, and the new deal addresses this issue.
Union president Fran Drescher said, "SAG-AFTRA members have remained incredibly engaged throughout this process, and I know they'll continue their advocacy throughout our next negotiation cycle. This is a golden age for SAG-AFTRA, and our union has never been more powerful."
The end of the actor's strike played out differently from the writer's, which also occurred this past summer. The Writers Guild of America reached their tentative deal with the AMPTP on September 24, and it was ratified about two weeks later. SAG-AFTRA's deal has been under closer scrutiny for the past month, largely due to the issue of AI.
AI is likely why only 78.33% of voting members approved the deal, starkly contrasting the 99% who approved the WGA's deal. Nevertheless, many actors have been vocal about supporting the new deal, including Star Trek actor Zachary Quinto.
Now that the deal has been ratified, it will be in place until June 30, 2026. In many ways, Hollywood has already returned to business as usual. Within a day of the strike's tentative end in November, actors were back at work promoting and shooting delayed projects. The ratification of the SAG-AFTRA deal ensures these projects won't need to be halted again and that actors can get the proper wages and treatment they deserve.
After a historic year, this chapter of Hollywood's labor movements has ended. The ratification of the new deal marks a significant victory for SAG-AFTRA members and sets a precedent for future negotiations.
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