Hollywood’s actors will return to the bargaining table with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) next week.
An email from the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) to its members which was obtained by IGN has confirmed that the actors’ guild will resume talks with studios on October 2.
“SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP will meet for bargaining on Monday, Oct. 2,” reads the email. “Several executives from AMPTP member companies will be in attendance.”
?The world of entertainment is powered by the extraordinary talents of performers. We are fighting for a fair industry where your magic is valued and rewarded as it should be. AMPTP, it's time to recognize our worth! ?? #SagAftraStrong pic.twitter.com/w5vH4w0Axo
— SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) September 28, 2023
This is the first time negotiations have resumed since SAG-AFTRA went on strike in July. “As negotiations proceed, we will report any substantiative updates directly to you,” the email continued.
SAG-AFTRA members were notified of the upcoming talks on Wednesday, the same day the Writers’ Guild of America strike was brought to a close.
“We appreciate the incredible displays of solidarity and support from all of you over the last 76 days of this strike,” said SAG-AFTRA to its members. “We urge you to continue coming out to the picket lines in strength and big numbers every day! One Day Longer. One Day Stronger.” The email was signed by “Your TV/Theatrical/Streaming Negotiating Committee”.
The SAG-AFTRA strike began back in July after negotiations to agree a new three-year contract with the AMPTP failed.
Some of the shocking details from the AMPTP’s proposals were revealed to the public, including a proposal for background actors to have their likeness scanned in exchange for a single day’s pay, allowing studios to then use their likeness in perpetuity.
“If you think that's a groundbreaking proposal, I suggest you think again,” said SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland.
As the SAG-AFTRA strike continued, the debate between the two sides became more strained, with Disney CEO Bob Iger wading in with claims that actors had “unrealistic expectations”.
“I understand any labor organization's desire to work on behalf of its members to get the most compensation and be compensated fairly based on the value that they deliver," he said. "We managed, as an industry, to negotiate a very good deal with the directors guild that reflects the value that the directors contribute to this great business.
“We wanted to do the same thing with the writers, and we'd like to do the same thing with the actors. There's a level of expectation that they have that is just not realistic. And they are adding to the set of the challenges that this business is already facing that is, quite frankly, very disruptive.”
Thankfully, negotiations will now resume, and it won’t be long before we see what the AMPTP is bringing to the negotiating table.
Want to read more about the Hollywood strikes? Check out why SAG-AFTRA voted to authorize a video game strike as well as how fans can support the ongoing strike.
Image credit: Stephen Moyer on the SAG-AFTRA picket line on September 27, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
