SAG-AFTRA reaches tentative deal for studio contract
SAG-AFTRA has reached a tentative four-year deal with the major studios as negotiators managed to avoid a repeat of the strikes of three years ago.
The union agreed to a deal about a month after the Writers Guild of America announced its tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Both unions waged months-long strikes against the major studios in 2023.
“SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP have reached a preliminary agreement on terms for a follow-on contract for the 2023 SAG-AFTRA TV/Theatrical Contracts for motion pictures, scripted primetime dramatic television, streaming content and new media,” the union said in a statement.
The AMPTP posted the same statement on its website.
Like the WGA, SAG-AFTRA agreed to extend the typical three-year term by one year, satisfying the studios’ desire for a longer period of labor peace.
In exchange for the longer term, the WGA received a $321 million injection into its health fund. It was not clear what the artists’ union got in return for the extra year, but the AMPTP reportedly sweetened its offer on Saturday, allowing the deal to be closed.
To take effect, the agreement must still be approved by the union’s board of directors and ratified by its members. In the statement, the union said the terms would not be made public until the board has had a chance to review the agreement. The board is expected to review the conditions in the coming days.
Although the current contract does not expire until June 30, negotiators were faced with a deadline. The Directors Guild of America will begin its negotiations on May 11, and the AMPTP took about a week to prepare. If no agreement had been reached with SAG-AFTRA, the two sides would have had to suspend talks and resume them in June.
The artists’ union began talks with the AMPTP on February 9, almost five months before the previous contract expired. Negotiators appeared to want to give themselves enough time to reach an agreement, partly to prevent the global industry contraction from worsening.
Key issues on the agenda included artificial intelligence and streaming residuals, both of which were also prominently discussed during the 2023 strike. The union secured significant protections against “digital replicas” – that is, AI avatars that resemble human performers – in 2023, including provisions for consent and compensation.
But the union has again tried to impose greater restrictions on synthetic characters like Tilly Norwood. The union has also tried to increase residual bonuses for artists who appear in popular shows on streaming. Actors have long complained that streaming residuals are a pittance compared to traditional broadcast and syndication residuals.
The first round of talks lasted until March 15, before SAG-AFTRA gave way to the WGA, which has an earlier deadline. When the WGA reached an agreement earlier than expected last month, it opened the door for SAG-AFTRA to resume negotiations on April 27.
The Producers Guild of America congratulated SAG-AFTRA on reaching the agreement.
“Every person who works in our industry is entitled to fair pay and benefits, and today’s announcement reflects a shared desire across our industry to secure fair contracts that reflect the value of our important and creative work,” a PGA spokesperson said.
Updated with further details.
