After SAG-AFTRA's month-long strike ended with a tentative deal in November, the results of a ratification vote are expected Tuesday. Some union members have criticized parts of the agreement and foresee a close outcome.
Anticipation for Ratification Vote
The SAG-AFTRA union's tentative three-year deal is up for a vote, with vocal critics expressing concerns over artificial intelligence and compensation. The historic agreement follows a 118-day strike, and while the union's national board voted 86% in favor, dissenting voices highlight divisive issues. Some members, like actor Alex Plank, criticize the AI provisions, citing disappointment in the lack of stringent protections. The debate intensifies on social media with the hashtag #SAGAFTRAvoteNO, as the industry awaits the outcome of the close ratification vote. The 129-page agreement marked the end of a 118-day strike that halted Hollywood's productions from blockbuster movies to network series and streaming shows, revealed after Thanksgiving.
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) ratified its deal after a 148 strike in October, and the Directors Guild of America settled their contracts in June without strikes. The two other unions made demands similar to SAG-AFTRA, including stricter rules on AI use, higher base pay, and a larger share of streaming profits. Notably, WGA and SAG-AFTRA hadn't had simultaneous strikes since 1960. The SAG-AFTRA national board approved the deal with over 86% support on Nov. 10, though some board members criticized it. Chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland acknowledged the agreement's imperfections but emphasized its groundbreaking nature, highlighting significant economic increases and future AI considerations.
Following the vote, the board described the package as a significant milestone, valuing it at over one billion dollars in new wages and benefit plan funding. The deal includes meaningful artificial intelligence protections, including informed consent and compensation for digital replicas of living and deceased members. However, as specifics of the tentative agreement surfaced, the hashtag #SAGAFTRAvoteNO gained traction on social media, with performers expressing concerns about what they perceived as inadequate AI protections.
Debates Over AI and Compensation
Actor and SAG-AFTRA member Alex Plank expressed disappointment with the AI provisions, wishing for strict bans on using actors' likenesses for AI training. According to him, the proposed contract allows producers to create synthetic performers, notifying SAG and negotiating with the union for usage situation he sees as enabling competition between synthetic and human performers. Plank also criticized certain compensation aspects, believing that what was negotiated may not significantly benefit the average actor's pay. He mainly found the criteria for receiving streaming residuals too narrow. Three other union members who spoke with NBC News anonymously also feared professional fallout from a labor deal perspective.
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Speculations on Close Vote and Committee Praise
One member speculated that the vote would be close due to an overwhelming number of people voting against it. Another member, who was part of the negotiating committee, praised SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher and deemed the agreement the best they have ever received. According to Drescher, critics are exploiting the momentum as she addressed naysayers in a Zoom meeting last month.
A SAG-AFTRA strike captain mentioned that if the new labor deal isn't ratified, it's unlikely to lead to another strike. Instead, the union and studios likely resolved the issues and held another vote. Many SAG-AFTRA members are not keen on another financially challenging strike after the recent one left thousands without pay during negotiations over minimum wages and streaming residuals. High-profile CEOs like Disney's Bob Iger and Netflix's Ted Sarandos were involved in the talks. SAG-AFTRA's executive vice president, Linda Powell, sees the ongoing debate over the tentative deal as healthy, attributing achievements to the members' efforts during the 118-day strike. She expressed satisfaction even if the value gets a 51% approval, noting that people are educating themselves further, which she sees as a positive and healthy process.
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