Who's On Strike Now?
By Natalie Lifson, Agent Trainee at Buchwald and your co-Editor-in-Chief at THA
Image from SAG-AFTRA
In a series of events we know all too well, last summer both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA went on strike and, ultimately, got favorable contracts– but with a price. As production and development stalled for months, the entertainment industry was economically devastated and many of us lost our jobs.
Although the strikes ended nearly a year ago, we’re clearly still feeling the effects. This disruption of workflow caused a massive economic loss that many companies struggled to bounce back from, which has led to layoffs, bankruptcy filings, mass unemployment, and cut wages for non-union members. We won’t even get into mental health and the lack of accessibility to entry-level positions…
Needless to say, the entire entertainment industry is a little traumatized. I think I speak for all of us when I say we hope the industry never slows to a halt like that ever again.
For this reason, all eyes have anxiously been on notable union negotiations that have been underway throughout the past few months:
SAG-AFTRA x Video Game Companies
Teamsters & Hollywood Basic Crafts x AMPTP
IATSE x AMPTP
If you need some more info on the unions, and which is which, see our new Hollywood Glossary.
Although it took months of contentious negotiations, IATSE reached an agreement with AMPTP on July 18th with just under 2 weeks to spare before their contract expired on July 31st, and the Teamsters / Basic Crafts ratified their new contract a lot closer to the wire on July 28th before their own July 31st contract expiration. They both got favorable contracts; it seems the AMPTP learned from last year’s negotiations –not only the devastating impact of the strikes, but also that union leaders are not bluffing and not willing to back down– and was willing to concede more than they otherwise might have to avoid industry shutdown.
SAG-AFTRA’s opponents, the video game companies, however, did not learn the same lesson that AMPTP did from last year’s strikes. After nearly 2 years of failed negotiations over a contract that expired in November 2022 and has since been extended multiple times to continue talks, SAG-AFTRA finally had enough and called for a strike on July 25th.
Although a strike against video game companies will not be as damaging in the same way a strike against AMPTP might, the US video game industry is valued at $106 billion, and the ripple effects may be massively felt throughout the already struggling entertainment industry as a whole.
For more information about these three contract negotiations, their demands, and their timelines, see below:
SAG-AFTRA x Video Game Companies - currently on strike
After failed attempts to renegotiate their Interactive Media Agreement with video game companies, SAG-AFTRA is currently on strike against 10 major video companies who are not willing to meet their demands.
According to SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the SAG-AFTRA priorities that video game companies are not willing to compromise on are:
Compensation undercut by inflation
Unregulated use of AI and safety
Crabtree-Ireland released a statement saying, “The video game industry generates billions of dollars in profit annually. The driving force behind that success is the creative people who design and create those games. That includes the SAG-AFTRA members who bring memorable and beloved game characters to life, and they deserve and demand the same fundamental protections as performers in film, television, streaming, and music: fair compensation and the right of informed consent for the A.I. use of their faces, voices, and bodies.”
The last time SAG-AFTRA went on strike against video companies in 2016-17, it lasted 183 days.
Timeline:
November 2022: The Interactive Media Agreement between SAG-AFTRA and video game companies expired. Since then, it has been extended multiple times to allow for continued negotiations. -Deadline
September 25, 2023: SAG-AFTRA Members Vote Overwhelmingly To Authorize Strike Against Video Game Industry -Deadline
July 25: SAG-AFTRA Calls Strike Against Major Video Game Companies After Nearly 2 Years Of Contract Talks -Deadline
July 26:
August 1: SAG-AFTRA Hits Picket Line At Warner Bros. Demanding “Baseline Of Respect” From Major Video Game Companies -Deadline
Teamsters & Hollywood Basic Crafts x AMPTP - reached agreement, 7/28
After months of intense negotiations, the Teamsters & Hollywood Basic Crafts ratified their new contract with the AMPTP only 2 days before the contract’s expiration.
According to Lindsay Dougherty, chairperson of the Hollywood Basic Crafts group, principal officer of the Hollywood Teamsters Local 399, and negotiations leader, priorities for the Teamsters & Hollywood Basic Crafts group included:
Wages
Benefits
Minimum staffing
Working Conditions
Artificial Intelligence (including autonomous vehicles)
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Lindsay summed up goals for the negotiations in one sentence: “We want our members to be able to make a career out of these jobs and way of life.”
The day the new contract began on August 1st, the Teamsters released the following statement:
“Our focus now will shift from negotiations to education and enforcement to make certain contract gains are actualized by our members. Preparation for the next round of negotiations starts now.”
March 3: Hollywood Teamsters, IATSE Hold Solidarity Rally called “Many Crafts, One Fight” Ahead of AMPTP Negotiations. -THR
March 4: The Hollywood Basic Crafts coalition (which spans nearly 8,000 workers in the Teamsters Local 399, IBEW Local 40, LiUNA! Local 724, UA Local 78 and OPCMIA Local 755) and IATSE begin joint negotiations with AMPTP. -THR
April 12: Lindsay Dougherty, chairperson of the Hollywood Basic Crafts group and the principal officer of the Hollywood Teamsters Local 399, suggests that the CEOs of studios, who historically have not been a part of negotiations but were crucial to resolving the SAG-AFTRA and WAG strikes, should step in earlier in the negotiations process to avoid another strike. She reveals that negotiations have already begun, but she has yet to speak to any CEOs. -Deadline
June 10: Lindsay Dougherty explains that although she is taking an “aggressive approach” to negotiating with studios, she wants to maintain a good relationship with them and doesn’t think there will be a need to authorize a strike. -THR
June 20: Mark Ruffalo, Quinta Brunson, Ryan Coogler Among Hollywood Union Members Signing Letter Of Solidarity Urging AMPTP To Bargain “Fair Contract” With IATSE, Basic Crafts -Deadline
June 21: Teamsters, Basic Crafts Put Pressure On AMPTP To “Set The Tone” For Remainder Of Talks Ahead Of IATSE’s Return To Table -Deadline
June 22: Hollywood Basic Crafts Leaders Claim Studios Exhibiting “Lack of Urgency” in Ongoing Negotiations -THR
July 3:
July 15: Teamsters’ Scheduled Bargaining Days With AMPTP Dwindle, But Wage Increases Remain A Problem -Deadline
July 19: Teamsters Extend Talks With AMPTP Into Next Week; Two Sides Still “Far Apart” As Contract Expiration Nears -Deadline
July 27: Teamsters Are Given a ‘Last, Best and Final’ Offer as Contract Nears Expiration -Variety
July 28: Teamsters, Basic Crafts Reach Tentative Deal With Studios Just Before July 31 Contract Expiration -Deadline
July 30: Teamsters Relieved Contentious Talks Are Over: ‘We Don’t Need to Strike’ -Variety
August 1: Teamsters, Hollywood Basic Crafts Ratify New 3-Year Contracts With AMPTP -Deadline
IATSE x AMPTP - reached agreement, 7/18
On July 18th, after months of negotiations, IATSE members voted to ratify a new contract with the AMPTP.
IATSE’s priorities included:
Raising minimum wage
Additional funding for health and pension
Guidelines for AI usage
Instituting a 401(k) plan
Preventing companies from subcontracting work to get around hiring IATSE members at IATSE wages
While they had to compromise somewhat on AI, the contract was generally favorable to IATSE members, increasing wages and benefits and improving working conditions.
Matt Loeb, the international president of IATSE, stated: “The gains secured in these contracts mark a significant step forward for America’s film and TV industry and its workers. This result shows our members agree, and now we must build on what these negotiations achieved.”
Timeline:
March 3: Hollywood Teamsters, IATSE Hold Solidarity Rally called “Many Crafts, One Fight” Ahead of AMPTP Negotiations. -THR
March 4: The Hollywood Basic Crafts coalition (which spans nearly 8,000 workers in the Teamsters Local 399, IBEW Local 40, LiUNA! Local 724, UA Local 78 and OPCMIA Local 755) and IATSE begin joint negotiations with AMPTP. -THR
March 21 - April 26: Ahead of Basic Agreement negotiations, which start on April 29th, all 13 IATSE West Coast Studio Locals reached tentative agreements with the studios.
IATSE Local 80: Motion Picture Studio Grips
IATSE Local 706: Make-Up Artists and Hairstylists Guild
IATSE Local 600: Cinematographers Guild
IATSE Local 729: Set Painter & Sign Writers
IATSE Local 800: Art Directors Guild
IATSE Local 700: Motion Picture Editors Guild
IATSE Local 884: Studio Teachers
IATSE Local 705: Motion Picture Costumers
IATSE Local 728: Studio Electrical Lighting Technicians
IATSE Local 892: Costume Designers Guild
IATSE Local 44: Affiliated Property Craftspersons
IATSE Local 871: Script supervisors, teleprompter operators, production coordinators, script coordinators, and writers room assistants
IATSE Local 695: Technicians across production sound, video assist, video engineering and studio projection
April 15: IATSE Has “Cautious Optimism” About General Negotiations With Studios As Union Aims To Finalize Craft-Specific Issues This Week -Deadline
April 29:
May 3: IATSE Talks Focus on $670 Million Shortfall in Health and Pension Plans -Variety
May 13: IATSE Aims To Conclude General Negotiations Thursday As Members Petition For Greater Transparency On Contract Proposals -Deadline
May 16: IATSE & Studios Close To Basic Agreement Deal, But Sticking Points Remain -Deadline
May 17: IATSE Shifts Bargaining Focus To Area Standards Agreement As Basic Agreement Talks Extend Into June -Deadline
May 24: IATSE Sets More Bargaining Dates in June, as AI Remains Key Issue -Variety
May 25: Loan Out Corporations Could End, IATSE Tells Members -Deadline
June 3: IATSE Remains “Hopeful” About Finalizing Basic Agreement, Wages Still A Sticking Point -Deadline
June 6:
June 20: Mark Ruffalo, Quinta Brunson, Ryan Coogler Among Hollywood Union Members Signing Letter Of Solidarity Urging AMPTP To Bargain “Fair Contract” With IATSE, Basic Crafts -Deadline
June 25: IATSE Reaches Tentative Agreement on Basic Agreement With Studios and Streamers -THR
June 30: IATSE Agreement Clears the Way to Use Artificial Intelligence as a Tool -Variety
July 10: IATSE Releases the Full Details of Their Tentative Deal; Sets Dates For Ratification Vote -Variety
July 18: IATSE Ratifies New 3-Year Deal With AMPTP, Despite AI Worries -Variety
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