SAG-AFTRA Suspend Negotiations
Talks between SAG-AFTRA and major studios have collapsed due to the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers’ statement on Wednesday, citing an insurmountable divide between the parties.
In a late-night communication to its members, the union accused the studios of employing aggressive tactics and stated that the studios had abandoned negotiations by declining to respond to the union’s latest proposal.
The union expressed profound dismay at this recent turn of events and encouraged its members to stand in solidarity by joining picket lines.
The primary obstacle revolves around a union proposition to share in streaming revenues, which the AMPTP claims would amount to $800 million annually. SAG-AFTRA contended that this figure was overstated by 60% and maintained that its proposal would cost streaming platforms just 57 cents per subscriber each year.
SAG-AFTRA also seeks a portion of streaming earnings for all union-protected content, spanning productions created exclusively for streaming platforms, as well as movies and television series licensed from other sources. This initiative goes beyond the achievement-oriented bonus secured by the Writers Guild of America.
Related: Writers Guild Strike Officially Ends
“We have negotiated with them in good faith, despite the fact that last week they presented an offer that was, shockingly, worth less than they proposed before the strike began,” SAG-AFTRA told its membership. “These companies refuse to protect performers from being replaced by AI, they refuse to increase your wages to keep up with inflation, and they refuse to share a tiny portion of the immense revenue YOUR work generates for them.”
“The companies are using the same failed strategy they tried to inflict on the WGA – putting out misleading information in an attempt to fool our members into abandoning our solidarity and putting pressure on our negotiators,” the union said. “But, just like the writers, our members are smarter than that and will not be fooled.”
To keep pace with inflation, SAG-AFTRA is also seeking an 11% increase in minimum rates. The AMPTP is offering the same deal it gave the Writers Guild, a 5% increase, followed by increases of 4% and 3.5%.
Related: Disney Ceo Bob Iger is Committed to Ending SAG-AFTRA & WGA Strikes
As unions like SAG-AFTRA strive to secure fair compensation for their members in the digital age, and with streaming platforms becoming increasingly dominant, these negotiations are emblematic of the challenges faced in achieving a balanced and equitable industry for all stakeholders.
The implications of these talks extend beyond the negotiation table, shaping the future of how content creators are compensated and how entertainment is distributed in an ever-changing media landscape. The outcomes of these discussions will continue to shape the industry’s trajectory in the years to come. It seems like the two sides remain far apart, meaning that work will not resume in Hollywood for quite some time.
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