After 191 days, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strike has come to an end.
The union reached a tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) on Thursday, November 9, 2023. The strike, which began on May 2, 2023, was the longest in SAG-AFTRA’s history.
The agreement was approved unanimously by the SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee and will now go before the union’s national board for final approval.
The strike was sparked by a dispute over several issues, including wages, health benefits, residuals for streaming services and the use of AI. The union was demanding a significant increase in wages, particularly for actors working on streaming services, as well as better health benefits and residuals for streaming services. The AMPTP, on the other hand, was offering smaller wage increases and fewer changes to health benefits and residuals.
The strike had a significant impact on the Hollywood industry, with many productions being shut down or delayed. The strike also had a negative impact on the Los Angeles economy, as many businesses that rely on the entertainment industry lost revenue.
SAG-AFTRA stated that the tentative agreement reached between the union and the AMPTP includes a number of provisions that are beneficial to actors. The new deal is valued at $1 billion and includes: a streaming participation bonus, “above pattern” minimum compensation increases, substantial increases for pension & health caps, pay increases for background actors, contract provisions protecting diverse communities, as well as, major provisions for consent & compensation from artificial intelligence (AI).
The strike was a major victory for SAG-AFTRA and its members. The union was able to achieve a number of its goals, including a significant increase in wages and better health benefits and residuals for streaming services. The strike also sent a message to the AMPTP that actors are willing to stand up for their rights. Many took to social media to rejoice the victory.
“Thank you to our negotiating committee…,”exclaimed comedian Loni Love in a Twitter post.
In an interview with Extra TV, actor Jeremy Allen White reacts to the #SAGAFTRAstrike ending and says he’s “very, very excited” for The Bear Season 3!
The end of the strike is a positive development for the Hollywood industry. Now the recovery process can start and actors can get back to work. The strike also has the potential to lead to a more equitable Hollywood, as actors are now more empowered to negotiate for better wages and working conditions.