SAG-AFTRA Deputy General Counsel Talks A.I. Contract Negotiations at Conference Panel

SAG-AFTRA Deputy General Counsel Matt Blackett was a speaker at the A.I. in Education: Where Are We Headed? panel, which took place during the 2024 Association of Research Bargaining Professionals Conference in Las Vegas on Dec. 3. Joining Blackett was NEA Manager, Collective Bargaining & Member Advocacy Aaron Muhammad and NEA Director of Research Stacey Pelika who served as moderator.

Blackett’s presentation focused on SAG-AFTRA’s bargaining work around artificial intelligence, particularly regarding its contract provisions and protections against artificial intelligence misuse. In addition to discussing strategy and language, he detailed the union’s recent legislative wins, most notably the passing of California Assembly Bills 1836 and 2602 which respectively provide performers and their estates with key protection against posthumous use of their image and likeness and require informed consent by performers prior to use of their digital replicas.

The Association of Research Bargaining Professionals promotes an exchange of ideas and methods to support the coordination of collective bargaining and research services at the local, state and national levels. The 2024 ARBP Conference took place in Las Vegas Dec. 3–5.

All photos courtesy of the NEA.

Photo: From left, NEA Director of Research Stacey Pelika, SAG-AFTRA Deputy General Counsel Matt Blackett and NEA Manager, Collective Bargaining & Member Advocacy Aaron Muhammad.