United States: A union representing Hollywood actors has chosen to go on strike after negotiations with major studios and streaming services have failed.
Ms. Fran Drescher, president of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), the union, cited in a statement the studio management’s offers were insulting and disrespectful. The union, which includes about 16,000 actors, said its negotiating committee had unanimously recommended a strike.
In the early July of 2023, US Actors’ Union and Hollywood Studios announced the two sides had agreed to extend their current labour deal through 12th July 2023, hours before a midnight deadline. It didn’t end up in an agreement.
The union asserted that after more than four weeks of bargaining, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) the entity that represents major studios and streamers remains unwilling to offer a fair deal on the key issues that are essential to Sag-Aftra members.
The AMPTP responded by saying it was deeply disappointed by the decision of SAG-AFTRA. The members will join the Writers Guild of America, who have been on strike against the same studios since May 2023. The strike is going to have a dreadful impact on the upcoming movie promotions. It could delay the Emmy Awards, as per the statement.
The strike is considered to be the first simultaneous strike by Hollywood writers and actors in more than 60 years.
RELATED | Sign of Faith; Hollywood actor Sean Penn presents Oscar to Ukrainian President
