SAG-AFTRA Says Dual Strikes Against Video Games & Film/TV Industry “Makes Sense” As Key Issues Of Wages & AI “Mirror” Each Other

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With SAG-AFTRA members already on strike against films and TV shows and voting now underway to authorize a separate strike against the video game industry, the guild’s leaders are saying that a dual strike, if it comes to that, “makes sense” because the issues at stake in both contracts “mirror” each other. “These are largely the same fight over the same issues, and members are stronger together,” SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher and National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said in their latest message to the guild’s members. “By standing shoulder to shoulder and in solidarity, we multiply our strength and send a clear and unmistakable message to all of our employers: We will not be exploited.

Without fair terms that protect our members and respect their contributions, employers should not have the benefit of our members’ services.” SAG-AFTRA has been on strike against film and scripted TV productions since July 14, and voting to authorize a strike against 10 major video game companies signed to the guild’s Interactive Media Agreement (IMA) began Tuesday.

The guild’s first and only strike against the gaming companies lasted 183 days in 2016-17. “Though the issues affecting performers who work in video games mirror those issues affecting TV/Theatrical performers, the Interactive Media Agreement negotiations with the video game companies don’t affect the timing or expected progress of negotiations or our strike on the TV/Theatrical contracts,” Drescher and Crabtree-Ireland said in their message to members. “A strike authorization vote on this agreement will not impact the TV/Theatrical strike.” Two of the main sticking points in the ongoing film and TV strike – wages and artificial intelligence – are also