SAG-AFTRA Requests Approval to Strike Against Video Game Companies

The National Board of SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) is unanimously seeking approval from its union members to authorize a strike against several video game makers as negotiations are set to resume later this month.

The union’s initial contract with major video game companies, known as the Interactive Media Agreement, was extended beyond its original expiration date last autumn as SAG-AFTRA sought to negotiate terms deemed critical for its members. However, the union stated that the companies have failed to address these crucial needs effectively.

Fran Drescher, the president of SAG-AFTRA, expressed concern over what she called “employer greed and disrespect.” She emphasized the potential impact of artificial intelligence on members’ job opportunities and livelihoods, asserting that the union is committed to standing up against these threats.

While the authorization for a strike does not immediately initiate a strike, it serves as a potent bargaining tool by granting the union the authority to declare a strike if negotiations reach an impasse. Eligible SAG-AFTRA members will have the opportunity to vote on authorizing a strike until September 25 at 5 p.m. PT, just ahead of the resumption of discussions.

Key demands from SAG-AFTRA include an 11% retroactive wage increase for video game performers and a 4% increase in the contract’s second and third years to account for inflation. These demands mirror those made by the union in its ongoing strike against film and television companies represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

An anonymous SAG-AFTRA negotiator shared that the video game companies are offering “a nominal dollar increase but a real dollar pay cut.” Due to the proposed terms and inflation, members could potentially earn less in real dollars in 2025 than they did in 2020.

Audrey Cooling, a spokesperson for the video game companies, conveyed their commitment to negotiating in good faith and reaching a mutually beneficial agreement promptly. She emphasized the desire for a fair contract that recognizes the valuable contributions of SAG-AFTRA-represented performers in the multibillion-dollar gaming industry.

The negotiations also centre on protections against artificial intelligence, especially concerning performance capture technology, which captures actors’ movements and facial expressions to enhance the realism of video game characters.

SAG-AFTRA’s National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland stressed the need for contractual protections, particularly in the face of AI advancements. He highlighted that voice and performance capture AI is among the most advanced applications of artificial intelligence and underscored the threat posed to performers’ artistry and livelihoods without proper safeguards.

The negotiations involve prominent video game companies such as Activision, Epic Games, and WB Games, known for franchises like “Star Wars: Battlefront,” “Call of Duty,” and “Mortal Kombat.” WB Games is part of Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of CNN.

A source familiar with the negotiations highlighted that the interactive nature of games relies on technologies like AI and that any significant changes could fundamentally alter game development. While progress has been made on nine of the union’s 16 proposals, the central issues of AI and wage increases remain unresolved.

The SAG-AFTRA negotiator clarified that the focus is on ensuring informed consent and proper compensation for performers in the context of AI technologies, rather than disrupting the game development process.