SAG-AFTRA agrees to extend contracts with AMPTP

July 2, 2023

The entertainment industry has managed to avoid another strike, at least for now. The Screen Actors Guild – Society of Television and Radio Artists of America (SAG-AFTRA) announced on Friday, June 30, that the actors’ union has agreed to extend its current television and theater contract with the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which previously expired on June 30 at 11:59 p.m. PST. .

The deadline has now been pushed to July 12, which puts the possible strike on hold for the time being. The AMPTP has until then to negotiate a new agreement with the union.

SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP agree to extend 2020 television/theatrical contracts. The deals now expire on July 12th at 11:59 PM. The parties continue negotiations within the framework of the mutually agreed media blackout.https://t.co/k7YYwUcmjs

— SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) July 1, 2023

SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP agree to extend contract and continue negotiations

The current deadline after the extension is July 12th at 11:59 PM PST. SAG-AFTRA said in a statement that both sides will continue negotiations “subject to a mutually agreed upon media blackout.” A statement from SAG-AFTRA notes, “Neither organization will comment to the media regarding ongoing negotiations during the extension.”

The organization issued the announcement a few hours before the original contract expired. As previously reported by The Blast, the union’s eligible members previously voted overwhelmingly 98% to authorize the strike before SAG-AFTRA begins negotiations with AMPTP. The vote authorized SAG-AFTRA’s National Board to call a strike if a new contract with AMPTP is not signed by the deadline.

So far, the National Board is not calling a strike over the new contract extension, and it seems they are not speaking to the media either. A strike could also occur if a new agreement with AMPTP is not signed during the extended negotiation period. Based on The Hollywood Reporternegotiations between the two sides are reportedly set to resume on Saturday (July 1).

Today’s announcement follows a video released to members last weekend and shared on the organization’s YouTube channel. In the video, union president Fran Drescher (TV’s “The Nanny”) and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland called the talks “extremely productive.” Drescher also stated, “We stand strong and will reach a basic agreement.”

Not long after the video was released THR reports that hundreds of high-profile SAG-AFTRA talent have signed a letter informing management that they are ready to strike to achieve a “transformational deal.” The letter was signed by leading stars such as Meryl Streep, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Jennifer Lawrence. The letter expressed concern that union members are currently “prepared to make sacrifices that management is not.” The letter added: “We feel that our wages, our craft, our creative freedom and the power of our union have all been undermined over the past decade. We have to turn these trajectories around.”

SAG-AFTRA is made up of 160,000 performers. In current negotiations, the organization is seeking protections for its members on generative artificial intelligence, raising the wage floor, increasing streaming residuals, more regulation of self-taped hearings, and protecting the union’s health, pension and retirement plans.

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