For those who believed that the SAG-AFTRA actors strike was a thing of the past, the Hollywood union has announced that video game voice actors and voice actors will go on strike in the coming days.
Beginning at 12:01 a.m. on July 26, more than 2,600 union members will strike after more than 18 months of negotiations between the union and video game studios under the Interactive Media Agreement (IMA). It was only on July 22 that the union’s national director was given permission to call an immediate strike after negotiations continued to stall.
The trigger for the strike was AI protections for voice actors and voice actors. According to members of the negotiating committee on behalf of the actors, they believe that video game studios do not want to protect their actors from potential exploitation that exists with AI.
“We will not agree to a contract that allows companies to abuse AI to the detriment of our members. Enough is enough. When these companies get serious about offering a deal that our members can live and work under, we will be here, ready to negotiate,” SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said in a statement.
“Frankly, it’s shocking that these video game studios haven’t learned anything from the lessons of the past year: that our members can and want to stand up and demand fair and equitable treatment with respect to AI, and the public supports us in that,” said SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland.
What do video game producers expect after the strike?
The middle Insider Gaming contacted Audrey Cooling, a spokesperson for the game producers involved in the IMA negotiations, and they released the following statement:
“We are disappointed that the union has decided to walk away when we are so close to an agreement, and we remain prepared to resume negotiations. We have already found common ground on 24 of the 25 proposals, including historic wage increases and additional safety provisions.”
“Our offer directly addresses SAG-AFTRA’s concerns and extends meaningful AI protections including a requirement for consent and fair compensation for all performers working under the IMA. These terms are among the strongest in the entertainment industry.”
Affected companies include Activision, Insomniac Games, Disney, Take Two, EA, WB Games and others.
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2024-07-30 02:27:56
