SAG-AFTRA, also known as Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, has frequently made headlines, and most people may not be familiar with the issue.
While you may assume it is an issue that may have arisen recently, just like many strikes in the industry, it has been going back and forth for years.
Basically, video game performers from SAG-AFTRA are planning to go on a strike against at least ten video game companies, including Disney, if they don’t address the wages that can’t keep up with inflation and introduce some sort of protection against AI Use. The negotiations began on September 26, 2023.
What Is SAG-AFTRA?
As stated above, SAG-AFTRA is a short form of Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. It is a union with approximately 160,000 professionals worldwide, which deals with issues that arise in various professions.
SAG-AFTRA was formed in 2012, and its headquarters is located in Los Angeles, California. The union is also a member of the International Federation of Actors (FIA).
What Is The SAG–AFTRA Video Game Strike?
It all started in October 2016 when the video game performers from SAG-AFTRA initially went on strike against various popular video game companies such as Disney, WB Games, and Electronic Arts.
The strike lasted for an entire year until it ended on November 17 and is recorded as the union’s longest strike to date. Eventually, the companies and the performers reached a three-year agreement, which was supposed to expire in 2020.
However, despite the inflation, their contracts were extended twice to 2022 and now 2023 without addressing concerns such as pay and transparency. Eventually, SAG-AFTRA members decided to take matters into their own hands once more.
At the beginning of this September, the union members voted to authorize a strike in case their bargaining against the ten major video game companies regarding wages and AI use failed.
This strike authorization doesn’t mean they are calling a strike right now but to convey to the world that they are serious about striking a fair deal with the companies and can even halt all of their services if the need arises.
The president of SAG-AFTRA, Fran Drescher, shared his thoughts on the issue through the official website of the union. In his words,
“It’s time for the video game companies to stop playing games and get serious about reaching an agreement on this contract. This strike authorization makes an emphatic statement that we must reach an agreement that will fairly compensate these talented performers.”
“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.”
What Are the Companies on the Negotiating End?
The official website of SAG-AFTRA also listed the companies they are negotiating with this Tuesday. Here are the companies:
- Disney Character Voices Inc.
- Epic Games Inc.
- Activist Productions Inc.
- Blindlight LLC
- Electronic Arts Productions Inc.
- Insomniac Games Inc.
- Formosa Interactive LLC
- WB Games Inc.
- Take 2 Productions Inc.
- VoiceWorks Productions Inc.
Out of all these companies, only Disney Character Voices Inc., a subsidiary of The Walt Disney and VoiceWorks Productions, specializes in handling production and casting for video game voice-overs.
Meanwhile, the rest, including WB Games Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Insomniac Games, and a few others, are video game creators and publishers, with the rest offering various services in the fields of audio, art, animation, and more.
The negotiations have just begun, so the strike has not begun yet, but given they are determined to renew their contracts with new conditions, either these companies step down to provide decent wages for these individual contractors or face the wrath of the union.
So, what are your thoughts on the SAG-AFTRA video game performers’ strike? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
Source: SAG-AFTRA
