SAG-AFTRA leaders today informed their members that the guild’s ongoing contract negotiations have been “extremely productive” and that they “remain optimistic” that a fair deal can be struck with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
In a video posted to the Guild’s YouTube channel, SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher and National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland provided their first update on the negotiations since negotiations began on June 7, two days after Guild members announced 97.9% had voted in favor of authorizing a strike if an acceptable deal is not reached by the end of the month in which the current contract expires.
Drescher said on tape shortly after the conclusion of Friday’s negotiation session outside the negotiation room, “We’re not going to give you a lot of detailed reports tonight because honestly it’s very confidential what’s going on there.” But I just want to reassure you that we conduct extremely productive negotiations that focus on all the crucial issues that you have told us are most important to you. And we remain strong and will strike a landmark deal.”
Watch the video here:
As the guild enters what may be the final week of negotiations before their current contract expires on June 30, Crabtree-Ireland said, “We have a very tight window of opportunity until our contract expires.” We’ve all worked long and hard to to move these conversations forward, and we remain optimistic that we can bring the studios, networks and streamers together to negotiate a fair deal that respects your contributions to the industry.”
The video update comes the day after Directors Guild members overwhelmingly ratified a new film and television deal and 54 days after the ongoing Writers Guild strike began.
Before voting on permission to strike, the union laid out some of its key negotiating issues, including “economic justice, balances, regulating the use of artificial intelligence and alleviating the strain of the industry-wide shift to self-taping.”