SAG-AFTRA Announces the Strike Is Over
After 118 days of strike action, SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP finally agreed to a contract valued at over one billion dollars, which includes compensation increases and provisions for consent and compensation to protect members from AI.
At 6:28pm PT on November 8, they put out a statement on social media that said:
Dear SAG-AFTRA Members:
We are thrilled and proud to tell you that today your TV/Theatrical Negotiating Committee voted unanimously to approve a tentative agreement with the AMPTP. As of 12:01am PT on November 9, our strike is officially suspended and all picket locations are closed. We will be in touch in the coming days with information about celebration gatherings around the country.
In a contract valued at over one billion dollars, we have achieved a deal of extraordinary scope that includes "above-pattern" minimum compensation increases, unprecedented provisions for consent and compensation that will protect members from the threat of AI, and for the first time establishes a streaming participation bonus. Our Pension & Health caps have been substantially raised, which will bring much needed value to our plans. In addition, the deal includes numerous improvements for multiple categories including outsize compensation increases for background performers, and critical contract provisions protecting diverse communities.
We have arrived at a contract that will enable SAG-AFTRA members from every category to build sustainable careers. Many thousands of performers now and into the future will benefit from this work.
Full details of the agreement will not be provided until the tentative agreement is reviewed by the SAG-AFTRA National Board.
We also thank our union siblings - the workers that power this industry - for the sacrifices they have made while supporting our strike and that of the Writers Guild of America. We stand together in solidarity and will be there for you when you need us.
Thank you for all your dedication, your commitment and your solidarity throughout this strike. It is because of YOU that these improvements became possible.
Your TV/Theatrical Negotiating Committee.
THE #SagAftraStrike IS OVER.
?? Thread below. pic.twitter.com/KDTl9uKBRt— SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) November 9, 2023
It has been an unprecedented time for Hollywood, with the WGA also striking this year before reaching an agreement with the AMPTP at the end of September.
The WGA also took to social media to share their congrats with SAG-AFTRA in a statement that said:
Congratulations to the SAG-AFTRA Negotiating Committee for reaching a tentative agreement after striking for 118 days to address the challenges actors were facing. We're thrilled to see SAG-AFTRA members win a contract that creates new protections for performers and gives them a greater share of the immense value they create.
When workers are united, they win!
Congratulations to the members of @sagaftra! ?? #SAGAFTRAstrong #1u pic.twitter.com/31RYFUFXTJ
— Writers Guild of America East (@WGAEast) November 9, 2023
Now both the writers and actors can get back to doing what they love with a healthy deal that'll ensure a sustainable future for members, and a lot of wonderful films and television for audiences to enjoy.