SAG-AFTRA Members Vote in Favor of Video Game Strike Authorization

variety.com:

Michaela Zee SAG-AFTRA members have voted to authorize a strike against the video game industry. The vote was 98.32% in favor of the strike authorization against 10 major video game companies, with 34,687 members casting ballots, representing 27.47% of eligible voters.

While the authorization does not guarantee a work stoppage will occur, the vote permits union negotiators to call for a strike for a new Interactive Media Agreement if necessary. “After five rounds of bargaining, it has become abundantly clear that the video game companies aren’t willing to meaningfully engage on the critical issues: compensation undercut by inflation, unregulated use of AI and safety,” said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA national executive director and chief negotiator, in a statement. “I remain hopeful that we will be able to reach an agreement that meets members’ needs, but our members are done being exploited, and if these corporations aren’t willing to offer a fair deal, our next stop will be the picket lines.” The voting period began on Sept.

5 and ended on Monday, ahead of the next negotiation session starting Tuesday. Negotiations over the new contract — which covers voice, motion capture, stunt work and other performances on video games — have been ongoing since Oct.

2022. The video game companies facing a potential strike include Activision Productions Inc, Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., Epic Games, Take 2 Productions Inc., VoiceWorks Productions Inc.