Hollywood actors represented by Sag-Aftra have voted to authorise a strike if a new contract with major studios, streamers and production companies cannot be reached.
The US union, which represents thousands of industry professionals, said the vote demonstrated a “powerful vote of solidarity”.
Nearly 98% (97.91%) of the 65,000 members who cast votes were in favour, Sag-Aftra said on Monday.
The strike authorisation does not mean the union is calling a strike with Sag-Aftra due to begin negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) on Wednesday.
In a powerful show of solidarity, SAG-AFTRA members have voted 97.91% in favor of a strike authorization ahead of negotiations of the TV/Theatrical Contracts, with nearly 65,000 members casting ballots for a voting percentage of 47.69% of eligible voters. https://t.co/sJiswszU1T
— SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) June 6, 2023
The affirmative vote on the authorisation empowers the union’s National Board to initiate a strike if the AMPTP cannot reach a deal with the union.
Issues up for negotiation include base compensation, which actors say has been undercut by inflation and the streaming services, the threat of unregulated use of artificial intelligence and benefit plans.
The current contracts expire at midnight on June 30.
Sag-Aftra president Fran Drescher said she was “proud” of all those who had voted “in favour of strength and solidarity”.
“Together we lock elbows and in unity we build a new contract that honors our contributions in this remarkable industry, reflects the new digital and streaming business model and brings all our concerns for protections and benefits into the now.
SAG-AFTRA Members Approve Strike Authorization with 97.91% Yes Vote https://t.co/hPCphXSMF9
— SAG-AFTRA NEWS (@sagaftranews) June 6, 2023
“Bravo Sag-Aftra, we are in it to win it.”
Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, Sag-Aftra’s national executive director and chief negotiator, said: “I could not be more pleased with this response from the membership.
“This overwhelming yes vote is a clear statement that it’s time for an evolution in this contract.
“As we enter what may be one of the most consequential negotiations in the union’s history, inflation, dwindling residuals due to streaming, and generative AI all threaten actors’ ability to earn a livelihood if our contracts are not adapted to reflect the new realities.
“This strike authorization means we enter our negotiations from a position of strength, so that we can deliver the deal our members want and deserve.”
It comes amid the ongoing strike involving more than 11,000 members of the Writers Guild of America, who have been on strike since May 2.
On Sunday night the Directors Guild of America (DGA) announced they had reached a “truly historic” tentative agreement with studios – which are due to be submitted to the DGA board on Tuesday.