SAG-AFTRA has been in Interactive Media Agreement negotiations with the video game companies since October 2022. Throughout the negotiations, the companies have refused to agree to critical terms members need.
Though there have been gains in some areas, the contract expired on Nov. 7 of last year, and since then, members who work this contract have been operating month to month.
In order to return to bargaining from a position of strength, in September, members voted to authorize a strike, with more than 98% voting yes.
In total, 34,687 members cast ballots, representing a voting percentage of 27% of eligible voters.
The strike authorization vote doesn’t guarantee a strike will occur; rather, it’s a tool to signal to employers that members’ patience is not unlimited, and that their proposals need to be taken seriously.
As this issue goes to press, negotiations continue with the game companies, which include Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., Take 2 Productions Inc., VoiceWorks Productions Inc., and WB Games Inc.
Members who work in interactive media want to be able to continue to earn a professional living doing the job they love. Compensation has been undercut by inflation, unregulated use of artificial intelligence threatens the very voices and likenesses that form the basis of professional acting careers, and safety provisions need to be stronger to protect members.
SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher and other union leaders released a statement Sept. 25 announcing the results of the strike authorization vote.
“It’s time for the video game companies to stop playing games and get serious about reaching an agreement on this contract,” said Drescher. “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 their CEOs lavishly — to give our performers an agreement that keeps performing in video games as a viable career.”
“After five rounds of bargaining, it has become abundantly clear that the video game companies aren’t willing to meaningfully engage on the critical issues: compensation undercut by inflation, unregulated use of AI and safety,” said SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland. “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 the picket lines.”
“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,” said Chief Contracts Officer Ray Rodriguez. “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.”
The strike authorization vote was initiated on the unanimous recommendation of the SAG-AFTRA Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee and National Board. Voting information was sent to eligible members on Sept. 5.
This item was originally featured in the SAG-AFTRA fall/winter 2023 magazine issue.