After an extensive 118-day strike, SAG-AFTRA has reached a tentative agreement on a new three-year contract with studios, signaling the end of the 2023 actors’ strike. The SAG-AFTRA TV/Theatrical Committee unanimously approved the agreement, bringing the strike to a close at 12:01 am on November 9.
The tentative agreement follows weeks of renewed negotiations, with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers setting a deadline for the union’s response. The details of the agreement remain undisclosed, pending the union’s ratification vote, which will likely happen in the coming days. If ratified, the contract could swiftly go into effect, resuming normal production activities.
READ: 148-Day Writers’ Strike Ends: Here’s The 16 Key Changes in the New Deal
Negotiations, which resumed on October 2 after the strike began in July, faced challenges, including a temporary walkout by the studios over SAG-AFTRA’s proposal to charge a fee per streaming subscriber on major platforms. The union’s concerns also extended to issues like setting terms for the use of artificial intelligence and additional streaming compensation for casts.
The strike, coinciding with an ongoing writers’ strike, granted the union significant leverage, leading to the shutdown of many U.S. productions. However, as the strike surpassed its 100-day mark, pressure mounted, prompting A-list actors to engage in discussions to expedite negotiations. The strikes have reportedly cost the California economy at least $6 billion.
The tentative agreement with SAG-AFTRA comes on the heels of the Writers Guild’s successful negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, marking a significant step towards normalizing Hollywood’s operations after six months of strikes. The agreement is poised to be ratified soon, allowing eligible members of the 160,000-strong actors’ guild to vote on the new deal.
(Originally read on Deadline)