SAG-AFTRA Approves Deal, Ending the Longest Strike

SAG-AFTRA has unanimously approved a tentative deal, ending the longest strike in Hollywood history with unprecedented AI protections for actors.

In what marks the end of the longest actors' strike in Hollywood history, SAG-AFTRA has approved a tentative agreement with film and TV studios. The 118-day strike, which halted productions through the entertainment industry, is set to officially conclude at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, marking a significant moment in the industry’s history. This agreement, unanimously voted on by the union’s negotiating committee, will next move to the SAG-AFTRA national board for final approval on Friday. Actors are allowed to resume work on Thursday, but the union member ratification process is likely to extend over a week or more.

While full details of the agreement are not set for release before the national board vote on Friday, early reports suggest significant strides have been made.

The negotiation process, which resumed on October 24 after a two-week stall, saw direct involvement from industry leaders from both sides. Last weekend’s “last, best, and final” offer from the AMPTP included an increased bonus for actors in top streaming shows but fell short of including revenue shares from streaming platforms, a major union priority. There was a groundbreaking pay increase. Under this agreement, most minimum salaries will see a 7% hike — surpassing the increases received by their counterparts in the Writers Guild of America and the Directors Guild of America.

One of the most contentious and complex issues at the negotiation table was the incorporation of AI protections, and the lack of which resulted in the union’s rejection of the proposal on Monday. Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA's lead negotiator, and Carol Lombardini, CEO of the AMPTP, conducted final discussions to iron out these critical details in the past two days. A marathon 12-hour response formulation by the SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee on Sunday and subsequent modifications in the AMPTP's AI language led to  the current tentative agreement. And central to the landmark deal are unprecedented protections for actors against the rising use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the industry, 

This strike, surpassing the 95-day record set in 1980, has not only highlighted critical issues within the entertainment industry, but also paved the way for technological and innovative changes, particularly in the realm and era of AI. With the industry set to resume full-scale operations, the attention might fall on how these new agreements will shape the future of Hollywood.