April
18. 97.85% of voting WGA members vote to authorize a strike.
30. SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher and National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland send members guidance ahead of the anticipated- WGA strike.
May
2. A strike by the WGAW and WGAE against all companies signatory to the 2020 Writers’ MBA begins. SAG-AFTRA announces support of the Writers Guild of America in its fight to achieve a fair and equitable contract, and SAG-AFTRA members join them on picket lines.
3. Crabtree-Ireland addresses a packed house of WGA members and other union leaders at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
7. The MTV Movie and Television Awards are not held live due to the WGA strike.
17. SAG-AFTRA’s National Board votes unanimously to send a strike authorization referendum to members prior to TV/Theatrical negotiations set to begin June 7.
26. Crabtree-Ireland speaks at the Unions Strike Back Rally and Dance Party in Downtown Los Angeles.
31-June 5: SAG-AFTRA volunteers participate in phone-banking to reach fellow members, making nearly 34,000 phone calls.
June
5. Voting ends for SAG-AFTRA’s strike authorization, with a historic 65,000 votes and 97.9% of voting members supporting the strike authorization referendum.
7. SAG-AFTRA begins negotiations with the AMPTP.
22. Crabtree-Ireland speaks to nearly 5,000 attendees at a WGA rally.
30. SAG-AFTRA’s Negotiating Committee sends a letter to members informing them that they’ve decided to extend negotiations with the AMPTP to July 12.
July
12. On the 90th anniversary of the Screen Actors Guild’s incorporation, SAG-AFTRA’s Television/Theatrical/Streaming contracts expire without a successor agreement.
13. SAG-AFTRA’s National Board convenes and votes to issue a strike order.
14. SAG-AFTRA’s strike of the TV/Theatrical/Streaming contracts becomes effective at 12:01 a.m. PT.
This item was originally featured in the SAG-AFTRA summer 2023 magazine.