SAG-AFTRA’s National Board Votes Unanimously To Ask Members For Strike Authorization

deadline.com:

SAG-AFTRA’s national board voted unanimously today to recommend that the union’s members authorize a strike in advance of its upcoming negotiations for a new film and TV contract. “In anticipation of the union’s forthcoming TV/Theatrical Contract negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which begin June 7, the SAG-AFTRA National Board agreed unanimously to recommend that its members vote to authorize a strike,” the guild said in a statement posted on its website. “An affirmative vote does not mean a strike would necessarily happen, but it would allow the National Board to call one if deemed necessary during the negotiations process,” the union added. “The action comes following a unanimous agreement by the TV/Theatrical negotiating committee that the strike authorization would give the union maximum bargaining leverage as it enters this round of negotiations with the AMPTP.

SAG-AFTRA represents more than 160,000 entertainment and media professionals.” RELATED: SAG-AFTRA Leaders Present United Front Ahead Of Contract Talks At L.A.

Local’s Annual Membership Meeting “It was the most solidarity that I’ve seen in a long, long time,” said a board member after the meeting. “To get 100% of this board to agree on something shows that we are united.” SAG-AFTRA hasn’t struck the film and TV industry since the merger of SAG and AFTRA in 2012.

Their last strike against the studios was in 1980 — a 95-day walkout that established contract terms for pay-TV and videocassettes.