The threat of an actor’s strike has only been delayed, not forgotten. With talks between SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP continuing, plans are already underway in case an agreement can’t be reached by midnight on July 12th.
On Friday, SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP agreed to extend their current film and TV contract to allow bargaining on a new deal to continue with the new date shifted to Wednesday July 12th.
If an agreement is not reached, then a strike seems likely and according to Deadline actors are already working on picket signs, ordering T-shirts, and putting together a list of lot captains and coordinators for the potential industrial action.
It is expected that SAG-AFTRA will join the Writer’s Guild at established studio picket sites on the morning of Thursday, July 13th should it go forward. SAG-AFTRA members voted 98% in favor of authorizing a strike if leadership fails to reach an acceptable deal.
This all follows on from the letter revealed the other week signed by many actors, including many A-listers, concerned that the actors guild leadership will strike a deal that “doesn’t get all the way there”.
It also follows the Directors Guild having ratified their new film and television contract, but the WGA and SAG are far more aligned on some key issues than the DGA.
Source: Deadline
