SAG-AFTRA strike could extend to video game voice actors
Jenny Goldsberry
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The Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists hinted at further strikes for voice actors.
Its national board will send ballots for its members to vote on a strike Tuesday and will begin counting votes on Sept. 25, which is over a year since the union extended its Interactive Media Agreement during negotiations. SAG-AFTRA cited “wages that keep up with inflation and protections against unrestrained use of artificial intelligence are common sticking points” to delay an agreement.
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Should the union members opt to strike, it would affect the contracts of Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Epic Games Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., Take 2 Productions Inc., VoiceWorks Productions Inc., and WB Games Inc.
“The overlap of these two SAG-AFTRA contracts is no coincidence, but rather a predictable issue impacting our industry as well as others all over the world,” SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said in a statement. “The disease of greed is spreading like wildfire ready to burn workers out of their livelihoods and humans out of their usefulness. We at SAG-AFTRA say NO! Not on our watch!”
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The initial strike rules prohibited performers from singing, rehearsing, or auditioning for anything but currently do not include work in voice-dubbing, commercials, or podcasting. Another strike could alter strike rules.
This is the first SAG-AFTRA strike in 43 years. This is the first time the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA are simultaneously on strike in 63 years, with Ronald Reagan at the helm before he ran for president for the most recent strike.