Sag-Aftra union ratifies strike-ending contract with Hollywood studios
The Sag-Aftra union has ratified its contract with Hollywood studios, nearly one month after the parties reached an agreement that put an end to the historic strike that had upended the film and television industry.
Actors won pay increases, protections around the use of artificial intelligence, and streaming-based bonuses in the deal, which the union said was valued at more than $1bn and hailed for its “extraordinary scope”.
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Sag-Aftra and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) – which represents Walt Disney, Netflix and other media companies – came to a tentative agreement in early November. Union leadership voted to ratify the deal shortly after, and this week 78% of its 160,000 members signed off on it.
The ratification of the deal marks the end of a challenging period in Hollywood that effectively shut down the industry and created significant financial challenges for tens and thousands of workers as unions sought protections for what they described as existential threats to their careers.
The deal will bring immediate 11% wage increases for background actors, as well as immediate 7% wage increases for others, Sag leaders said last month.
The union also won hard-fought guardrails for the use of AI. Under the new agreement, studios cannot create a digital replica of an actor without first obtaining their consent, and actors will receive payment based on the type of work the digital replica performs on-screen. The contract provides protections for background performers so that their digital replicas cannot be used without consent.
The wide-ranging agreement also includes a new $40m fund to pay performers for future viewings of their work on streaming platforms, institutes a requirement for intimacy coordinators for scenes involving nudity or sex and includes terms to “ensure that sets have proper hair and makeup for all performers”. Black actors and other actors of color have long reported racist practices in Hollywood hair and makeup departments, including being told that productions “didn’t have the budget” to style their type of hair.
This year’s strike was the longest ever work stoppage for US film and television actors and for several months occurred alongside the writers’ strike, which won some similar protections from studios.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
