In the latest development in the film industry, the SAG-AFTRA strike is finally coming to an end, with negotiators approving a tentative agreement. The union said on Wednesday that the strike, which has now lasted 118 days, will end at 12:01 am on Thursday. In a historic move, the union’s bargaining committee approved the deal by a completely unanimous vote and now the agreement will go before SAG-AFTRA’s national board for approval on Friday.
Details of the agreement between SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP
In recent days, both parties have finalized the agreement. This deal will be the first of its kind in history to provide actors and other people working in the film industry with protection against the use of artificial intelligence. This agreement not only protects them from having their jobs taken over by AI, but also provides them with a significant wage increase. Under the new agreement between SAG-AFTRA and Alliance of Motion Picture and TV Producers (AMPTP), the minimum wage will increase by 7%.
Under this deal, employees will also receive increased pension and health care benefits. Not only this, but according to an email sent to SAG-AFTRA, the deal also includes a “streaming participation bonus.” With all this stated, the email also states:
“We have reached a contract that will allow SAG-AFTRA members from every category to build sustainable careers. Many thousands of artists, now and in the future, will benefit from this work.”
Sag-Aftra Chairman Fran Drescher posted on Instagram that the agreement had been reached and thanked all members for their support.
Waves of joy are rippling throughout the film community over the completion of this deal, and the union is expected to host celebrations across the United States. A member of the union, Kevin E. West, said yes “Tears of relief and joy” in the committee room when the signing of the deal was completed. West also added to his statement that-
“The final vote was unanimous. That is difficult to achieve. It’s honestly been a very long two weeks.
People in the film industry faced a serious threat in the face of artificial intelligence, which was also the most complicated problem to solve in the entire campaign that lasted 118 days. However, as the strike comes to an end, we can expect films halted as a result to return to production and match the release date assigned to them. Some major projects such as Deadpool 3 has suffered discontinuations as it was nearing completion, but now production will begin again, and let’s hope Deadpool 3 and other abandoned projects make it to their official release date without any delays.
