SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP Reach Tentative Deal; Statement published

The strikes seem to be over! Today, SAG-AFTRA (the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) finally agreed to an agreement to end the unprecedented strike that has been ongoing since July. Negotiations have reached a crisis point in recent days, but as of 12:01 a.m. PT on Thursday, an agreement was reached between them and the studios represented by AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) that will end the strike after a unanimous vote.

According to diversityUnder the agreement, most minimums will be increased by 7%, which is 2% more than the amount the WGA received when it ended its strike last month. Further details have yet to be revealed about how the deal will impact the high-profile use of AI, which has been a major sticking point in negotiations. The deal will now be presented to the union’s national executive board on Friday. In a statement to members, SAG-AFTRA wrote:

“We are thrilled and proud to announce that your Television and Theater Negotiating Committee voted unanimously today to approve a tentative agreement with the AMPTP. As of 12:01 a.m. PT on November 9th, our strike is officially suspended and all picket lines are closed. We will be in touch with you in the coming days with information about celebrations across the country.”

Hollywood has been largely on pause since the writers and actors’ strike began earlier this year, and while the Writers Guild of America reached a satisfactory agreement last month, there were a few other sticking points for the actors’ guild. Namely around the use of artificial intelligence. However, it seems that all of this is becoming a moment in history, which means that the stalled projects and promotions can begin soon.

The union added:

“With a contract valued at over $1 billion, we have reached a deal of exceptional scope that includes above-average minimum compensation increases, unprecedented consent and indemnification provisions to protect members from the threat of AI. and is introducing a streaming participation bonus for the first time. Our pension and health caps have been significantly increased, which will add much-needed value to our plans. “In addition, the agreement includes numerous improvements across multiple categories, including outsized compensation increases for background artists and important contract provisions to protect diverse communities.”

RELATED: Disney criticized for using AI-generated background actors in SAG-AFTRA attack

SAG-AFTRA has been on strike since July

The actors’ union has been keeping its members updated on the negotiations, and this week things finally looked promising. SAG-AFTRA wrote a message to its members following Wednesday’s talks:

“The Negotiating Committee met today to discuss and finalize our response to the AMPTP AI counter-proposal we received yesterday. Negotiators then met with AMPTP representatives for more than three hours this afternoon and evening to present and review our revised proposal. We continue to await the AMPTP’s response to our comprehensive counter-proposal package that we presented to them on Saturday, which addresses outstanding issues.”

SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher commented on her unique negotiating style in a video message at the time, after reports that she attended the negotiations with a heart-shaped stuffed animal.

“I can be exactly who I am, I can lead with intellect, I can lead with wisdom, I can lead with empathy, I can be myself,” she explained. “I can guide and still hold a little stuffed animal shaped like a heart that I call ‘love’.”

Apparently their tactics worked. The strikes received widespread support from across the world of film and television. Various celebrities joined working actors and writers as they picketed studio and network bases in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, etc. more.