With less than a week to go before their contract expires, SAG-AFTRA leaders are optimistic about the progress of the negotiations.
In a video sent to members on Saturday, union president Fran Drescher and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland say they hope to strike a deal with the studios.
If they do, it would prevent a “double strike,” where artists would join the Writers Guild of America on picket lines outside the major studios.
“I just want to assure you that we are conducting extremely productive negotiations that are laser-focused on all of the critical issues that you said are most important to you,” Drescher said. “We are standing strong and we are going to make a groundbreaking deal.”
The video comes a day after members of the Directors Guild of America voted to ratify their contract, which provides increases in residual and minimum amounts, as well as gains on work hours, family leave and creative rights.
The SAG-AFTRA contract expires next Friday and there has been talk of extending negotiations if the parties cannot reach agreement on all points by then.
In the video, Crabtree-Ireland noted that there is “a very small time frame left before our contract expires.”
SAG-AFTRA represents 160,000 artists. The union is pushing for robust protections around the use of artificial intelligence, as well as increases in residues and regulations for self-recorded auditions, among many other issues.
“We’ve all worked long and hard to move these conversations forward, and we remain optimistic that we can bring the studios, networks and streamers to strike a fair deal that respects your contribution to this industry,” Crabtree said. Ireland.
The leaders did not use the word “strike” or mention the strike authorization that was approved by 98% of members just before talks began on June 7.
At a similar point in the WGA negotiations, the guild held events to make picket boards and issue a long set of strike rules.
SAG-AFTRA’s strike authorization gives the leadership the power to call a strike starting July 1 if a contract is not reached.