SAG-AFTRA’s contract that ended the strike on Nov.8 has been revealed. According to Variety, the 128-page contract has the union advising its members to vote yes. The ratification deadline is set for Dec.5.
This tentative agreement was secured just after the strike reached its 118th day and marked the union’s most lengthy and widespread walkout. The strike was the first of its kind since Jimmy Carter was in office.
SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher (The Nanny, Happily Divorced) and national executive director and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland were the main ringleaders who ultimately got this deal and have been praised for their groundbreaking work.
Yet, some terms on the contract, such as generative artificial intelligence, have drummed up some debate, especially with a few members feeling the need to vote down on these terms. In their opinion, this is due to the long-term AI protections that won’t do more to protect jobs.
However, with the extensive actors strike in the rearview mirror, the probability of most union members rejecting the contract seems small.
Drescher has repeatedly mentioned the financial and workplace gains that were accomplished after many hours of negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers or AMPTP.
“These contracts achieve more than $1 billion in NEW compensation and benefit plan funding (including an additional $317.2 million to the benefit plans). The contracts establish lengthy and detailed AI guardrails that didn’t exist before and do protect you as we meet the challenge of this new technology, hair and makeup equity, significantly increased background coverage, outsized streaming residuals, a new streaming success fund, and so much more. These gains are only possible because of your sacrifice, solidarity and tenacity over the 118 days of the strike and are assured if you vote to ratify the agreement,” stated Crabtree-Ireland in his cover letter to the mailing.
If the contract is approved, the 2023 Memorandum of Agreement will be effective from November 9, 2023, to June 30, 2026.
Members of SAG-AFTRA can vote by mail or online until 5 p.m. PT on Dec.5.
To view the entire contract, click here.