On Nov. 9, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strike officially ended.
A deal was struck between SAG-AFTRA and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMTPT) , reaching over a billion dollars in revenue for actors and screenwriters.
“We have forged the biggest deal in industry history which broke pattern, established new revenue streams and passed a historic $1 billion plus dollar deal with the most progressive Artificial Intelligence (AI) protections ever written,” said SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher in an official statement on the SAG-AFTRA website.
The agreement includes wage increases for background and primary actors alike, protection around the use of artificial intelligence (AI), and new compensation for all workers performing on streaming services such as Netflix or Max.
“Once ratified, this deal will fundamentally reset how our membership is compensated to account for the growth of streaming and, for the first time, institute deep protections against the encroachment of AI technology,” said SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland in the SAG-AFTRA statement.
While those deep protections aren’t specified, Crabtree-Ireland did expand on AI prevention.
“A.I technology just like every other technological advancement is going to occur,” he said in a video on X, formerly known as Twitter. “So, we didn’t want to waste our leverage and bargaining power trying to do something that was impossible. Instead, we put really meaningful limitations on A.I that no one has ever done before.”
Eligible members of the union will vote on the new contract. The deadline to vote is Dec. 5.
“Eligible SAG-AFTRA members will vote on the proposed successor agreements covering television, theatrical and streaming production,” SAG-AFTRA said in their online statement.
One of the hardships for modern actors, writers and directors working with streaming services was they weren’t receiving residuals on shows, or movies like on cable television.
Similarly, screen writers weren’t hired to be on set and most of the rewriting went to the showrunners who were already being paid to be there in the first place. Many of these artists were forced into secondary incomes because of this.
“The union achieved the creation of a new compensation stream for performers working in streaming. It provides a substantial bonus on top of existing residuals structures making work in streaming more sustainable for middle class actors,” noted SAG-AFTRA in their statement.
New wage increases for background actors started Nov. 12th, approximately 11 percent increase was reached. There will be an additional four-percent increase in July 2024.
In addition to wage increases the contract will also provide gains for hair and make-up, limiting the use of unnecessary wigging as well as an intimacy coordinator for actors during sex scenes or any scene with nudity.
“It also provides more sexual harassment prevention protections for performers including the use of intimacy coordinators in scenes involving nudity and simulated sex or upon request and additional safeguards for background,” said SAG-AFTRA.
Accommodation for seniors, minors, or people with a disability is included in the contract as well.
Although the new contract isn’t in effect, wage increases started during the beginning of the rectification.
“The current contracts remain in effect during the member ratification process, except for wage increases, which go into effect during the ratification period. The term of the new agreement is for three years effective during the ratification period through June 30, 2026, and is retroactive upon ratification,” said the online statement on SAG-AFTRA website.
The strike lasted 118 days, negotiations began in June and talks of wages began as early as December 2022.
