SAG AFTRAthe Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, has officially declared its strike.
diversity reports that the strike will begin at midnight while union members can join the WGA picket lines on Friday 14 July tomorrow morning. Therefore, productions that are part of the SAG-AFTRA TV and film deal must be halted immediately. This is the second time that actors have gone on strike alongside writers. The previous case happened in 1960.
SAG-AFTRA National Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland stated: “Union members should hold off on their work until a fair deal can be reached. They have left us with no alternative.”
“We are falling victim to a very greedy company,” explained Fran Drescher, SAG-AFTRA President today at the press conference. “At some point you have to say: ‘No, we won’t put up with that anymore.’ You are crazy. What are you doing? Why are you doing this?’ … The entire business model has been transformed by streaming and AI. If we don’t stand firm now, we will all be in danger. You can’t change the business model as much as it was changed and not expect the contract to change as well.”
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers released a statement on the strike, stating:
“A strike is certainly not the outcome we hoped for as studios cannot function without the artists who bring our TV shows and films to life. The Union has regrettably chosen a path that will result in financial hardship for untold thousands of people who depend on the industry.”