For the first time in nearly three months, SAG-AFTRA returned to the negotiating table with Hollywood studios and streaming services on Monday to make a deal that could end the actors’ strike. This comes on the tail end of the WGA’s new contract, although SAG-AFTRA knows they have a long fight ahead despite this.
“No one is going into this overly confident or assuming it’s going to be easier because the writers have made their deal,” a high-ranking guild member told Deadline. “Let’s be cautious, there is some serious ‘wait and see’ here. Wait and see what they bring new to the table, what they are willing to reconsider. Wait and see if they have really changed their tune or if this is the old AMPTP back in the room.”
SAG-AFTRA, the union for actors, officially went on strike on July 14th. They joined the WGA, which had been on strike since May 2, in picketing and protesting at major Hollywood studios. The WGA reached their deal, which included AI protections, data transparency, increased residuals, and writers room staffing increases, on Sept. 24.
“I do not expect this to be a speedy effort — it will take some time before there’s a deal,” said an insider of today’s talks. “Getting the AMPTP to even think about straying from the patterns they’ve set with the DGA and even the WGA to accommodate SAG-AFTRA, [that’s] going to be a struggle.”
Meanwhile, SAG-AFTRA has continued to release their daily picketing schedule, saying that they will not stop picketing until they have a fair deal.
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