ACTRA Stands in Solidarity with SAG-AFTRA Members During Their Video Game Strike

Toronto, ON (October 21, 2016) — ACTRA is proud to stand in solidarity with our SAG-AFTRA sisters and brothers during their job action as they continue with renegotiation of their Interactive Media Agreement, which covers production of videogames.

“All of ACTRA’s 23,000 members from across Canada stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers at SAG-AFTRA as they take job action until they can negotiate a reasonable deal for their Interactive Media Agreement,” said ACTRA President Ferne Downey. “As a demonstration of this solidarity, we at ACTRA will refuse any struck work until a settlement is reached. All performers deserve fair pay for the use of our work and safe working conditions so we can go to work with peace of mind knowing that our performance matters.”

The negotiations have been underway for the past 19 months with SAG-AFTRA members having continued to work under the expired Agreement since late 2014. While SAG-AFTRA continues to request reasonable improvements for its members – including fair compensation for the use of a performer’s work and safe working conditions – videogame employers continue to refuse to engage in productive discussions.

As such, ACTRA has instructed its 23,000 members across Canada not to accept any struck work from the videogame companies involved in these negotiations effective immediately, unless otherwise notified.

At an international level, a motion by performers’ unions from around the world was passed unanimously this past September at the International Federation of Actors Congress to provide support for acceptable terms and conditions for videogame performers in the U.S., including fair pay, protections against vocal stress, and transparency regarding roles. FIA has also released a statement of support for SAG-AFTRA members.

Click here for additional information on the SAG-AFTRA videogame strike.

ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) is the national union of professional performers working in the English-language recorded media in Canada. ACTRA represents the interests of 23,000 members across the country – the foundation of Canada’s highly-acclaimed professional performing community.