SAG on strike: What you need to know

Jacob Downey

He/Him

Editor-in-Chief

8/2/23

On May 2nd, the Writers Guild of America, a labor union representing over 11,000 writers for TV, film and online media announced that they had, “…made clear to the studios’ labor representatives that we are determined to achieve a new contract with fair pay that reflects the value of our contribution to company success and includes protections to ensure that writing survives as a sustainable profession” and would be withholding their labor until an agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers could be reached. The WGA’s demands include an “increase minimum compensation significantly to address the devaluation of writing in all areas of television, new media and features”, to “Standardize compensation and residual terms for features whether released theatrically or on streaming”, and to “Regulate use of material produced using artificial intelligence or similar technologies”, among others.  

On July 14th, the WGA was joined by the Screen Actors Guild who too share these concerns, particularly that AMPTP members have failed to properly compensate their cast and crew despite increasing demands and what SAG-AFTRA identifies as consistently rising profit margins of major streaming services. While solidarity is maintained between both unions, SAG-AFTRA specifically has purposed an 11% wage increase with an additional 6% over the next two years along with additional provisions meant to create a safer, more equitable working environment.

On July 19th, the New England branch of SAG-AFTRA held a brief rally at Boston Common. Present was SAG-AFTRA’s New England president Andrea Lyman who expressed that “We are valuable actors, and they’re valuable writers. I think that we’re sending the message that you don’t want to just give away your talents and everything you’ve, earned it.” Lyman, taking note of union action from not just the entertainment sphere but the recent push by UPS drivers to improve their working conditions, hopes that labor action does not become a trend as we move deeper into these ‘roaring 20’s’, stating, “You cannot treat people this way… so many corporations with this kind of thing is happening. I want people to fight for basic rates, being paid, or being safe in the workplace. You know, it’s just crazy.”

Working actor and SAG-AFTRA member Bill Motoos stressed that a primary goal of the strike is to keep the arts accessible to artists trying to see their own name in lights, “Right now, both unions, we have identified a number of areas where our producers are being more than unfair, in a way that actually jeopardizes the future of the business.” An additional concern lies in an artist’s ability to make a living. It can be easy to write off the plight of writers and actors when the ‘Rocks’ and ‘Downeys Jr.’ rake in incomprehensible sums for their performances, but the fact of the matter is that working actors such as Motoos are just people trying to make a career. Of particular concern is younger people trying to enter the profession being off-put by both the general economic dread of the post-grad job search as well as shrinking wages and stagnant working conditions, with Mootos saying, “If [young artists] realize there’s no money in this for me, or it’s not worth the risk. I want to have a family, I want to own a house and I can’t do that. But by knowing that I’m not going to make a living at this, you’ll lose all of that talent.” 

Neither SAG-AFTRA nor the WGA has any current interest in telling you not to enjoy their work however, Motoos did note that “There may come a time where we’ll ask people to change their viewing habits based on, you know, what, how things are affecting us. There’s nothing better to affect the producers than people not buying their product.” Currently, the best way for non-members to support the ongoing strikes is by staying informed and joining as an ally on the picket line. The WGA will reenter negotiations on Friday, August 4th and SAG-AFTRA will be holding a rally starting at 3:45 PM at the Boston Common Parkman Bandstand.