United States: SAG-AFTRA members have ratified a new contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents major studios and streamers, according to the Hollywood actors union.
Members of SAG-AFTRA voted, with roughly 78 percent in favour, to ratify the contract. The union said about 38 percent of members turned out to vote. The contract will end on June 30, 2026.
“SAG-AFTRA members have remained incredibly engaged throughout this process, and I know they’ll continue their advocacy throughout our next negotiation cycle,” SAG-AFTRA President, Ms. Fran Drescher, said in a statement.
“The AMPTP member companies congratulate SAG-AFTRA on the ratification of its new contract, which represents historic gains and protections for performers. With this vote, the industry and the jobs it supports will be able to return in full force,” AMPTP noted.
The approved contract brings an end to a long saga that spanned almost four months and caused industry paralysis as well as existential concerns about the entertainment industry’s future. After contentious negotiations throughout the year, Hollywood producers and actors finally reached a tentative agreement on November 8, 2023. The tentative agreement had been approved by 86 percent of the union’s national board.
The approximately 160,000-member SAG body discussed for three weeks whether or not to approve the agreement. The tentative agreement gave the union hope. The agreement “represents a new paradigm” for Hollywood, TV, and the actors, according to the studios, while Drescher hailed it as “historic” when it was closed.
Following the tentative agreement, the actors union strike came to an end at midnight, bringing an end to one of the most disruptive strikes in Hollywood history.
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