SAG-AFTRA Members Approve Strike Authorization
The vote revealed Monday was 97.91% in favor.
The vote revealed Monday was 97.91% in favor.
Via Deadline:
SAG-AFTRA members have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike if upcoming contract talks fail to produce a satisfactory agreement by June 30. The vote revealed Monday was 97.91% in favor, with nearly half of eligible members — 47.69% — casting ballots. According to the union, nearly 65% of eligible members voted.
The vote comes just two days before the guild will begin bargaining for a new contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers; two days after the Directors Guild reached a tentative agreement with the AMPTP for its own new contract; and 35 days into the ongoing Writers Guild strike.
— —
“The strike authorization votes have been tabulated and the membership joined their elected leadership and negotiating committee in favor of strength and solidarity,” said SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher. “I’m proud of all of you who voted as well as those who were vocally supportive, even if unable to vote. Everyone played a part in this achievement. Together we lock elbows and in unity we build a new contract that honors our contributions in this remarkable industry, reflects the new digital and streaming business model and brings ALL our concerns for protections and benefits into the now! Bravo SAG-AFTRA, we are in it to win it.”
— —
SAG-AFTRA hasn’t struck the film and TV industry since the merger of SAG and AFTRA in 2012. Their last strike against the studios was in 1980 — a 95-day walkout that established contract terms for pay-TV and videocassettes.
Other reporting:
Upon release of the voting result, WGA members and supporters of the strike took to Twitter. Here are a few choice tweets.
I’m still baffled by the DGA strategy. They settle on a deal four weeks before the end of their current contract. Why give up that leverage? It makes no sense. It’s almost as if they are in the pocket of the AMPTP…
I think I just answered my question.
Anyway good luck, DGA negotiating team, explaining this deal to your membership when 98% of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA support a strike.
For the latest updates on the strike and news resources as aggregated on Go Into The Story, go here.