SAG-AFTRA Leaders Assure Actors: Negotiations Have Been Productive

Still, it’s too early to say if Hollywood will avoid a second strike.

As the writers’ strike end is still out of sight, the Actors Guild seems close to a deal to avoid another walkout. In fact, SAG-AFTRA leaders assured members that their negotiations with studios and streamers have been “extremely productive” lately. In a video message sent to the union’s 160,000 affected members Saturday, union president Fran Drescher and national executive director and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said the talks had been “laser-focused on all of the crucial issues.” In the update, Drescher said, “We’re standing strong, and we’re going to achieve a seminal deal.” The Guild has been negotiating with the Alliance of Film and Television Producers, which represents studios and streamers, since June 7.

As the June 30 deadline for current contracts between TV/theatrical stakeholders approaches, the industry faces imminent threat of shutdown. Unless both parties promptly agree to extend their existing contracts in the final hours of negotiation, a strike is still highly probable. An overwhelming majority of voting members, amounting to 98%, authorized a work stoppage in anticipation of impasse. Hollywood remains on the edge as the possibility of another strike looms.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter