SAG-AFRA has released the 128-page contract negotiated to end the strike, and the union leaders are urging members to vote yes on the deal by the December 5 ratification deadline. While leadership called it an ideal offer, most members have been skeptical about its contents.
Variety has stated, “The hard-fought tentative agreement was sealed after a 118-day strike, which marked the union’s longest-ever widespread work stoppage and its first since Jimmy Carter was in the White House.”
The terms in the contract related to generative artificial intelligence protections have sparked debate among members. Some argue that the long-term AI protections are insufficient to safeguard jobs in the long run.
SAG-AFRA president Fran Drescher, an American actress most known for her role in The Nanny, and Duncan Crabtree-Ireland are credited with sealing the deal. Despite the praise for the agreement, some prominent members express concerns about the adequacy of AI protections and vow to vote against the contract. The strike overlapped in part with the 148-day Writers Guild of America walkout, emphasizing the significance of the sacrifices made by SAG-AFRA members during the prolonged negotiations.
Members are urged to vote on the contract by the December 5 ratification deadline. If approved, the 2023 Memorandum of Agreement will be effective from November 9, 2023, through June 30, 2026.
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