SAG-AFTRA’s Duncan Crabtree-Ireland ruffled some feathers at yesterday’s CES in Las Vegas. According to Deadline, he asserted a possible strike was not off the table regarding upcoming contact negotiations with studios and streamers.

“I want to be crystal clear: We are not going to accept a deal that is not fair to our members,” the SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director said via Deadline. “There is no reason there should need to be a strike because these companies should come to the table in good faith, as we are.”

He later lamented while “a strike is a possibility,” he also seemed hopeful, reassuring the crowd that “with weeks and weeks of time for us to negotiate, there is no reason we shouldn’t be able to reach a deal.” According to Deadline, official contract renewal discussions for the 170,000-member union begin on February 9. Their current contract lasts until June 30.

The previous strike of 2023 stifled the film and TV industry for months as both SAG and WGA picketed for new contracts that ensured better healthcare plans, wage percentage increases, more mandatory and sustained writers rooms, and protections against the rise of AI. The WGA officially issued their strike on May 2, 2023, with SAG joining two months later. Deals with each respective union were finally reached in September and November.

Deadline reports SAG-AFTRA plans to show its hand first in negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Crabtree-Ireland remained tightlipped on specifics, especially when questioned about the AMPTP’s early ideal of contract extensions in exchange for better quality healthcare plans. It was previously reported that the studios would offer them, the DGA and the WGA $110 million for health coverage in exchange for a five-year contract period.

Deadline reported the current cash flow for WGA’s health coverage is “not sustainable,” via a source citing the rising costs have impacted the deal initiated two years ago. Apparently it has cost the writer’s union $120 million.

According to Deadline, the reasoning for the five-year plan is aimed at “stability,” a source stated last month. However, pushback from union members viewed the longer contract periods as way for studios to ignore their needs.

“Longer contracts mean less reasons for the studios and the AMPTPT to pay attention to labor,” a WGA insider told Deadline. “That’s less attention to AI, residuals and mergers, and that’s not a good place for us.”

In addition to proposed better healthcare, the alleged merger of Netflix and WBD will remain the elephant in the room as many have expressed outrage against it.