SAG-AFTRA and Studios agree to extend negotiations into next week

SAG-AFTRA and the major studios have agreed to continue negotiations on a new contract until next week, a sign that both sides see the value of further talks.

The artists’ union began negotiating on February 9 for the first time since the 2023 strike. The original expectation was that the talks would last through March 6, leaving a one-week period to allow the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers to prepare for talks with the Writers Guild of America, which begin on March 16.

But apparently enough progress has been made to raise some hope that a few more days could lead to an agreement.

“SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP will extend negotiations into the week of March 9, and remain under a mutually agreed upon media blackout,” the two sides said in a joint statement on Friday.

SAG-AFTRA’s contract doesn’t expire until June 30, so the February start date came unusually early. The two sides are working out terms related to artificial intelligence, residuals streaming and healthcare and pension financing – along with more obscure topics such as exclusivity windows for regular TV series.

If the two sides cannot reach an agreement soon, they are likely to abandon talks and resume in June – when deadline pressure will be greater.

The Directors Guild of America will begin negotiations on May 11. The WGA contract, meanwhile, expires on May 1. All three guilds are facing challenges resulting from a dramatic decline in work since 2022. The WGA and DGA in particular are facing large annual shortfalls in their healthcare funds due to the slowdown in employment and the rise in healthcare costs.