Posted by 
Listen: SAG-AFTRA Slams Studios
SAG-AFTRA slams studios for “bully tactics” as negotiations hit a snag
Top executives from Disney, Netflix, and others leave the table.
While the Writers Guild of America is back to work, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) faces challenges.
Talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) collapsed due to alleged “bully tactics,” as CEOs, including Disney’s Bob Iger and Netflix’s Ted Sarandos, reportedly left without making a counteroffer. Negotiations had been ongoing since early October.
Since July, SAG-AFTRA’s committee has been tirelessly advocating for actors on strike, but tensions are rising.
The union expressed disappointment in the studios’ previous offer, claiming it was worth even less than what was proposed before the strike began. SAG-AFTRA is demanding better protection against being replaced by artificial intelligence, fair wage increases to keep up with inflation, and a fair share of the revenue their work generates for the studios.
On the other hand, the AMPTP argues that a requested cut in streaming revenue would result in an $800 million annual loss, a figure SAG-AFTRA disputes, claiming it’s inflated by 60 percent due to strong counters from the union.
SAG-AFTRA believes this is an attempt to deceive members and weaken support. Additionally, the union accuses the studios of demanding actors’ consent for AI use across franchises.
In the meantime, SAG-AFTRA urges its members to continue their presence at picket lines and show solidarity at events.