SAG-AFTRA may have won their battle against the AMPTP, but another one against the gaming empire still brews. The actors will be taking their fight close to home outside The Game Awards.
SAG-AFTRA members who lend their voices, motions, or likeness to video games along with members of Game Workers of Southern California will be meeting today between the hours of 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. PT.
Back in September, the union members voted 98.32% in favor of a strike authorization on the Interactive Media Agreement that covers members’ work on video games. 34,687 members cast ballots, representing a voting percentage of 27.47% of eligible voters. Gaming moguls neglected to offer the actors sufficient conditions surrounding better financial compensations that accommodate inflation, safety protocols on set, and protection against the unregulated use of artificial intelligence among other things.
RELATED: SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher Defends New 2023 Tentative Agreement And Calls Out “Naysayers”
On the contrary to what that strike authorization would have you believe, SAG-AFTRA isn’t necessarily calling for another strike. The actors guild has been in Interactive Media Agreement negotiations with major video game companies such as 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. since October last year.
“It’s time for the video game companies to stop playing games and get serious about reaching an agreement on this contract. 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.”
– SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher
Can SAG-AFTRA Win This Fight?
The odds this time are different and unfortunately, I’m not entirely sure whether or not the results will be in SAG-AFTRA’s favor. Everyone knew about the actors being on strike with the writers because Hollywood was essentially shut down, the fate of the entire film industry was at stake and the economy became very fragile. I’m not saying that to be dramatic, that was the reality of the situation. We can all breathe easier knowing those Hollywood strikes are done and the artists can now be treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.
Regarding the matter of SAG-AFTRA versus the videogame industry, considerably fewer eyes are on that, and the stakes are lower. A SAG-AFTRA strike will not have an immediate impact on video games as acting is not prevalent in this field. It’s comforting to know that they aren’t on strike yet, and while I’d like to see the union members succeed and be given what they deserve I think they may need to re-assess their strategy. Whatever the future holds, they’ll be ready to face it.
Let us know your thoughts regarding SAG-AFTRA’s conflict with the gaming industry on social media and follow us for more content like this. We’re always watching.
KEEP READING: MR. & MRS. SMITH – PRIME VIDEO UNVEILS ALLURING TEASER FOR THE NEW SERIES STARRING DONALD GLOVER AND MAYA ERSKINE
