Actors Approve SAG-AFTRA Deal That Ended 118-Day Strike: ‘It’s an Enormous Victory'

SAG-AFTRA picket lines.Photo:Michael Tullberg/Getty

Michael Tullberg/Getty

This comes after theHollywood actors strikeended on Nov. 9, whenSAG-AFTRA’s negotiating committee reached a tentative agreementwith the AMPTP. The strikebegan on July 14and lasted for 118 days, making it the longest in the actors' union’s history.

The new contractincludes “more than $1 billion in new compensation and benefit plan funding, along with outsized gains to the traditional residuals formulas," the union said. Entertainers who work for streaming platforms will see a new compensation model allowing them to make substantial bonuses on top of existing residuals structures.

There are also restructured rules around consent and compensation guardrails for the use of AI, hair and makeup equity, and more, the union said. The deal also includes “meaningful protections” for the casting process and new sexual harassment prevention protections.

Fran Drescher and Duncan Crabtree-Ireland.John Salangsang/Shutterstock

John Salangsang/Shutterstock

In the announcement Tuesday, SAG-AFTRA PresidentFran Dreschersaid she was “proud” of the union’s membership.

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SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland echoed Drescher’s words, adding that members deserve “fairness” and “protection” for the projects that they create.

“This new contract delivers on these objectives and makes substantial progress in moving the industry in the right direction. By ratifying this contract, members have made it clear that they’re eager to use their unity to lay the groundwork for a better industry, improving the lives of those working in their profession,” he said.

“And now let’s move forward, stay vigilant, stay fed, stay creative, and stay human. And stay united,” he wrote on Instagram. The actor, 62, also tagged SAG-AFTRA’s account in the post.

Days before the contract was ratified, some actors openly said they were against the deal.

“Still a “no” for me dawg… 🤷🏽‍♂️,”InsecureactorKendrick Sampsoncaptioned anInstagramcarousel.

After stating that he’d received “many” messages from individuals outside of the television and theatrical industry weighing in on SAG-AFTRA’s contract and the possible relationship with AI, Sampson expressed some of his concerns in multiple slides.

In one screenshot, the actor and activist, 35, explained that he felt actors’ leverage could be diminished because projects could theoretically be promoted without the consent of the talent.

The new agreement is effective retroactively to Nov. 9, 2023, and expires June 30, 2026.

source: people.com