Fran Drescher, the president of SAG-AFTRA, revealed in an interview on ABC’s Good Morning America that negotiations for a new contract are progressing positively in certain aspects, but facing challenges in others. Drescher emphasized the union’s unprecedented support from its members and the possibility of a strike if a satisfactory agreement is not reached before the contract expires on June 30th at 11:59 p.m. (PT). Host Michael Strahan questioned Drescher on the progress made, to which she responded that they have achieved progress in certain areas while facing obstacles in others. She expressed hope for a favorable deal that aligns with the changing landscape of the industry, particularly in the digital age and streaming era. Drescher stressed the importance of standing firm, honoring the contributions of industry professionals, and advocating for the well-being of the union’s 180,000 members. Additionally, she expressed solidarity with the Writers Guild.
Recent Developments and Actors’ Letter
Following a vote on June 5th, where 98% of SAG-AFTRA members authorized a strike if negotiations failed to yield a satisfactory outcome, Fran Drescher and Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the guild’s national executive director, released a video updating members on the contract negotiations. They described the negotiations as “extremely productive” and maintained optimism about reaching a fair agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. However, over 1,000 actors, including prominent SAG-AFTRA members, signed a letter expressing their willingness to strike if the guild does not fully address their concerns during talks with the studios. Fran Drescher herself endorsed the letter.
The guild had previously outlined key bargaining issues ahead of the strike authorization vote. These issues included economic fairness, residuals, regulating the use of artificial intelligence (AI), and addressing the challenges posed by the industry-wide shift to self-taping.
Regarding economic fairness, the guild highlighted the struggle faced by performers in maintaining a middle-class lifestyle due to outdated contract terms and changes in the media business. While compensation for members has diminished, the studios continue to generate immense profits, as evidenced by generous executive compensation packages. SAG-AFTRA aims to ensure that its members can earn a living wage through increased compensation, secure funding for Health, Retirement, and Pension Plans, and receive a fair share of the economic value created by their performances.
Residual payments, according to the guild, fail to adequately reflect the economic value of SAG-AFTRA content that is monetized globally. The guild seeks to rectify this by ensuring that residuals accurately reflect the contributions of its members and serve as a significant source of earnings.
The threat posed by AI is another concern for SAG-AFTRA. The guild acknowledges that artificial intelligence can mimic the voices, likenesses, and performances of its members, undermining their work. SAG-AFTRA aims to reach an agreement that establishes acceptable uses of AI, safeguards against misuse, ensures consent, and provides fair compensation for the use of members’ work to train AI systems and create new performances. The guild expresses disappointment in the companies’ lack of commitment to protecting its members’ rights to their own voices and likenesses in their public statements and policy work.
Self-taped auditions, which are currently unregulated, have become burdensome for performers due to excessive requirements and unreasonable time constraints. SAG-AFTRA emphasizes the need for reasonable rules, limitations, and access to alternative casting formats to ensure fair opportunities for work and protect performers from exploitation.
The guild also acknowledges that various other important issues specific to different careers and categories will be addressed during the negotiations.
SAG-AFTRA’s contract negotiations are progressing favorably in some areas while facing challenges in others. The union has received unprecedented support from its members and has authorized a potential strike if the negotiations fail to reach a satisfactory outcome. The guild has outlined key concerns, including economic fairness, residuals, AI usage, and the regulation of self-taped auditions. SAG-AFTRA aims to secure fair compensation and protect the rights and well-being of its members in the ever-evolving digital age of the entertainment industry.