SAG-AFTRA union participants have actually elected yes to accredit a video clip game strike. It did so with a 98.72% enact support of accrediting a strike on the Interactive Media Agreement that covers its participants’ operate in the games sector. In total amount, 34,687 participants cast tallies, which stands for 27.47% of qualified citizens, SAG-AFTRA creates in a news release.
This ballot does not suggest SAG-AFTRA stands out, however provides the union take advantage of in its continuous arrangements and also, if required, enables the union to start a strike promptly. The union wishes this strike consent will certainly function as included take advantage of, engaging the business it is negotiating with “to make significant movement on critical issues where we are still far apart.”
As for why, SAG-AFTRA has actually remained in Interactive Media Agreement arrangements with “signatory video game companies,” consisting of Activision Productions Inc., Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Insomniac Games Inc., Epic Games, Take 2 Productions Inc., WB Games Inc., and also much more, given that October of in 2015. SAG-AFTRA states, “Throughout the negotiations, the companies have refused to offer acceptable terms on some of the issues most critical to our members, including wages that keep up with inflation, protections around exploitative uses of artificial intelligence, and basic safety precautions.”
The following negotiating session starts today and also is set up for tomorrow, September 27, and also Thursday, September 28, too.
“It’s time for the video game companies to stop playing games and get serious about reaching an agreement on this contract,” SAG-AFTRA head of state Fran Drescher creates in a news release. “The result of this vote shows our membership understands the existential nature of these negotiations, and that the time is now for these companies – which are making billions of dollars and paying CEOs lavishly – to give our performers an agreement that keeps performing in video games as a viable career.”
SAG-AFTRA nationwide exec supervisor and also principal mediator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland states it has actually come to be clear to the union after 5 rounds of negotiating that video clip game business aren’t ready to meaningfully involve on essential concerns like settlement damaged by rising cost of living, uncontrolled use AI, and also security. “I remain hopeful that we will be able to reach an agreement that meets members’ needs, but our members are done being exploited, and if these corporations aren’t willing to offer a fair deal, our next stop will be at the picket lines,” Crabtree-Ireland states in journalism launch.
“Between the exploitative uses of AI and lagging wages, those who work in video games are facing many of the same issues as those who work in film and television,” primary agreements policeman Ray Rodriguez creates in journalism launch. “This strike authorization makes an emphatic statement that we must reach an agreement that will fairly compensate these talented performers, provide common-sense safety measures, and allow them to work with dignity. Our members’ livelihoods depend on it.”
After a unanimous suggestion of the SAG-AFTRA Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee and also National Board previously this month, electing info was sent out to qualified participants on September 5. The last due date to elect was the other day.
Previously, SAG-AFTRA asked for a strike for its participants executing video clip game job back in October of 2016. The strike lasted practically a year prior to a new contract was signed in November 2017. It entered into result on November 8, 2017, and also was anticipated to go through November 7, 2020. However, a contract was gotten to in between participant staff members and also their companies that prolonged this agreement to November 7, 2022, as reported by Variety.
“We are pleased to have reached this agreement with the employers,” after that SAG-AFTRA head of state Gabrielle Carteris stated in a declaration. “The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the entertainment industry, but work on video games, much of which can be done remotely, has continued. This extension allows members to keep working and have some certainty during an uncertain time.”
This expansion raised incomes by 3% every year, with wellness and also retired life payments enhancing .5%, according to Variety.
Ahead of the agreement’s expiry in November 2022, negotiating started in October 2022. It proceeds today, currently with a strike consent in play.
This SAG-AFTRA strike consent comes soon after the Writers Guild of America (WGA) union got to a tentative arrangement in Hollywood. It has yet to be validated however is anticipated to be and also will certainly finish an almost five-month strike that started in May of this year. SAG-AFTRA’s tv and also movie arm started striking in July; it is still striking today.
SAG-AFTRA states the Interactive Media Agreement arrangements “don’t affect the timing or expected progress of negotiations or our strike on the TV/Theatrical contract” which this strike consent ballot does not affect the continuous television/Theatrical strike.
