SAG-AFTRA members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of authorising a strike if upcoming contract talks between the actor’s guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) fail to produce a satisfactory agreement by June 30th.
The vote was reportedly 97.91% in favour, that’s even stronger than the 97.85% who voted in favour of strike authorisation for the Writers Guild back in April. In addition, the union says nearly 65% of eligible SAG-AFTRA members voted on the proposal.
The vote comes just two days before the guild begins bargaining for a new contract with the AMPTP and two days after the Director’s Guild reached a tentative agreement with the AMPTP for its own new contract.
Meanwhile, the writer’s strike is ongoing and is in the midst of its 35th day. SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher says in a statement issued tonight:
“The strike authorization votes have been tabulated and the membership joined their elected leadership and negotiating committee in favor of strength and solidarity.
I’m proud of all of you who voted as well as those who were vocally supportive, even if unable to vote. Everyone played a part in this achievement.
Together we lock elbows and in unity we build a new contract that honors our contributions in this remarkable industry, reflects the new digital and streaming business model and brings ALL our concerns for protections and benefits into the now! Bravo SAG-AFTRA, we are in it to win it.”
The last actor’s strike against the studios was all the way back in 1980 – resulting in a three-month walkout that established contract terms for pay-TV and video.
Source: Deadline
