{"id":2022902,"date":"2023-09-05T23:41:02","date_gmt":"2023-09-06T03:41:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hollywood-actors-union-to-vote-on-strike-against-video-game-makers\/"},"modified":"2023-09-05T23:45:01","modified_gmt":"2023-09-06T03:45:01","slug":"hollywood-actors-union-to-vote-on-strike-against-video-game-makers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hollywood-actors-union-to-vote-on-strike-against-video-game-makers\/","title":{"rendered":"Hollywood actors&#8217; union to decide on strike against video game makers."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhollywood-actors-union-to-vote-on-strike-against-video-game-makers%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2022902&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div data-post-content=\"true\" class=\"post_content\" id=\"post_content\">\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<h2>Hollywood Actors Vote on Potential Strike Against Video Game Makers<\/h2>\n<p>Hollywood actors \u200dhave initiated a union-wide vote on whether to strike \u200bagainst <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/video-game-that-has-users-slaughter-israelis-as-palestinian-militant-violates-anti-terror-laws-legal-group-says\/\" title=\"Video Game That Has Users Slaughter Israelis as Palestinian Militant Violates Anti-Terror Laws, Legal Group Says\">video game makers<\/a> as negotiations with major studios and streaming services remain stalled. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/temperatures-flare-as-hollywood-actors-writers-strike-heats-up-5407626\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read more<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation\u200b of Television and Radio\u200c Artists\u2019 (SAG-AFTRA) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/film-projects-on-pause-due-to-potential-strike-report\/\" title=\"Possible strike halts film projects: Report.\">national board voted<\/a> on \u200bSeptember 1 to send members ballots to decide whether\u200c to vote against 10 video game companies\u2064 after the union said \u200cnegotiations for a\u200c new contract failed.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cIt has been nearly a year since SAG-AFTRA\u2019s video game contract \u2026 was extended beyond the original expiration date as we negotiated with companies for critical terms SAG-AFTRA members need,\u201d SAG-AFTRA representatives said in a September 1 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sagaftra.org\/sag-aftra-national-board-votes-unanimously-send-interactive-media-video-game-strike-authorization\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">press release<\/a>. \u201cFor\u200b this reason, the negotiating committee and National Board unanimously agreed that the union should\u200c have a member-approved strike authorization in hand when bargaining resumes on September 26.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote><\/div>\n<div class=\"shortcode\">\n<div class=\"border-comp-divider mb-4 mr-4 w-full max-w-[500px] border px-5 py-4 text-[16px] leading-[20px] text-[#262626] md:float-left\" id=\"in_article_related_stories\">\n<div class=\"mb-3 font-sans text-[16px] font-semibold uppercase leading-[19px] text-[#2F2F2F]\">Related Stories<\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/opinion\/california-bill-would-guarantee-more-labor-lockouts-paid-by-taxpayers-5485340\">California Bill Would Guarantee More Labor Lockouts Paid by Taxpayers<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">9\/1\/2023<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/opinion\/california-bill-would-guarantee-more-labor-lockouts-paid-by-taxpayers-5485340\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/writers-actors-hold-national-day-of-solidarity-rally-as-strikes-continue-5478866\">Writers, Actors \u2062Hold National &#8216;Day of Solidarity&#8217; Rally \u200cas Strikes Continue<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">8\/22\/2023<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/writers-actors-hold-national-day-of-solidarity-rally-as-strikes-continue-5478866\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The union began mailing out ballots on Tuesday. Voting is expected to\u2062 close at the end \u200bof business on September 25.<\/p>\n<p>A strike authorization vote\u2063 doesn\u2019t automatically start a strike but it permits the union\u2019s national board to declare a strike if\u200b negotiations fall apart,\u2064 according to SAG-AFTRA.<\/p>\n<p>Fran Drescher, SAG-AFTRA\u2019s president, told members that the issue \u2063of artificial\u200c intelligence (AI) in video\u2063 games was jeopardizing union jobs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOnce again we are facing \u2062employer greed and disrespect,\u201d Ms. Drescher said\u200c in the press release. \u201cOnce again artificial\u2063 intelligence is putting our members in jeopardy of reducing the\u200b opportunity to work.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Unregulated use of \u200cAI poses an \u201cenormous threat\u201d to artists\u2019\u200c professions, she continued. For \u2064instance, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hollywood-actors-union-to-vote-on-strike-against-video-game-makers\/\" title=\"Hollywood actors' union to decide on strike against video game makers.\">trained stunt performers provide digitally captured performances<\/a> to give expressive movement to video game characters, and the use of AI \u2063without restrictions poses \u200da threat to their jobs, she said.<\/p>\n<p>Without\u200d protections in the union\u2019s contract, \u2062employers are asking performers to unknowingly\u2064 participate in \u200bthe extinction of \u200ctheir artistry and livelihoods, according to Ms.\u2064 Drescher.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<h3>SAG-AFTRA&#8217;s Demands<\/h3>\n<p>SAG-AFTRA is demanding an\u200c 11-percent retroactive wage increase to when the contract ended in November 2020. It was <a href=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/2020\/gaming\/news\/sag-aftra-video-game-contract-extension-1234823687\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">extended<\/a> at that\u200d time until November 7, 2022, when negotiations \u200dbegan for a new agreement.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The union is also seeking a 4-percent increase in the second and third years of the agreement to keep up with inflation.<\/p>\n<p>Members are also asking for on-camera performers to have the same five-minute-per-hour rest period that off-camera performers are granted, and an on-set medic when\u2064 stunts or hazardous work is performed.<\/p>\n<p>Video game companies included in the agreement\u2064 are Activision Productions, Blindlight, Disney Character Voices, Electronic Arts Productions, Epic Games, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, Take 2 Productions, VoiceWorks Productions, and WB Games.<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure style=\"width:600px\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>The \u2063entrance to the Activision Blizzard Inc.\u200d campus is \u200bshown in Irvine, Calif., on Aug. 6, 2019. (Mike Blake\/Reuters)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Meanwhile, SAG-AFTRA members \u2063began their eighth week of a strike against the \u2062Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) this\u2063 week.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<h3>SAG-AFTRA&#8217;s Message to Union Members<\/h3>\n<p>SAG-AFTRA\u2019s chief negotiator\u2063 and national executive director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland marked Labor\u2064 Day with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sagaftra.org\/message-national-executive-director-duncan-crabtree-ireland-0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">letter<\/a> to union members, rallying\u2062 them to \u201cstay strong.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\u201cStudios\u200b counted on fatigue and a fragmenting of the \u200dmembership, and they have unsuccessfully attempted to foment infighting, but\u2063 SAG-AFTRA members\u2014you\u2014understand that solidarity is our most powerful weapon,\u201d Mr. Crabtree-Ireland said in the letter.<\/p>\n<p>Union members \u200ctook Monday off to celebrate the holiday but were expected to return to \u200cthe picket lines at major studios for the \u2064rest of \u200cthe week.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<h3>Continued Negotiations \u2062with the Writers Guild of America<\/h3>\n<p>In another <a href=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/2023\/biz\/news\/actors-strike-labor-sagaftra-duncan-crabtree-ireland-1235712590\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">letter<\/a> published Monday in the industry magazine Variety, Mr. Crabtree-Ireland said SAG-AFTRA is willing to continue negotiating with the studios but the alliance told them it would be \u201cquite some time before they would be ready to talk.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\u201cMore \u2062than 52 days later, we are still ready and \u200bwilling to negotiate a fair deal, but we have not heard a word from the \u200bAMPTP,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure style=\"width:600px\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>Hollywood writers and actors hold a union \u200brally outside Disney Studios \u200din Burbank,\u200c Calif., on Aug. 22, 2023. The \u201cNational Day of Solidarity\u201d rally \u200ddrew an estimated 2,000 people supporting the ongoing \u200cstrikes against major studios. (Jill McLaughlin\/The Epoch \u200bTimes)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>However, the studios and producers, including Amazon, Apple \u2062TV, Disney, Fox, Netflix, \u200cNBCUniversal, Paramount Global, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Warner \u2063Bros. Discovery, and others, have resumed \u200csome negotiations with the Writers Guild of\u200b America (WGA), which has been on strike\u2064 since May 2.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<h3>AMPTP&#8217;s Proposal<\/h3>\n<p>The AMPTP released \u2064details of a proposal <a href=\"https:\/\/press.amptp.org\/node\/19237\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Aug. 22<\/a> countering a writer\u2019s union proposal submitted 11 days prior. The alliance\u2019s package featured first-of-their-kind offers for writers, including unprecedented terms in AI, data \u2064transparency, and minimum staffing, the\u200d association said in a press release.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\u201cOur priority is to \u200bend the strike so that valued members of the creative \u2064community can return to what they do best and to end the hardships that so many people and businesses that service \u200dthe industry are experiencing,\u201d said Carol\u200b Lombardini, president of the AMPTP, in a statement.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/press.amptp.org\/sites\/labor.amptp.org\/files\/AMPTP%20Press%20Release%202023%2008%2022.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Details<\/a> of the studio\u2019s and\u200b producer\u2019s offer include the highest wage increase for writers in 35 years. This included a compounded 13-percent raise over \u2062the three-year contract\u2014a 5-percent increase in the \u2064first year,\u2064 a 4-percent increase\u200b in the second, and a 3.5-percent raise in \u2063the third.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Additionally, the \u2063studios offered a 15-percent increase in minimum weekly rates for some writers \u200cin \u200cthe first year and\u200d more wage increases up to \u2062the third year of the agreement, taking a writer from $9,888 per week \u2064to \u2062$11,371\u2063 a week for up to nine weeks,\u200c in\u200c one scenario.<\/p>\n<p>Residuals would also increase from $72,067 \u200dto $87,546 per episode for three years, according to\u200c AMPTP.<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure style=\"width:600px\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>Members of the The Writers Guild of America picket outside Fox Studios in Los Angeles on \u2063May 2, 2023. (Ashley Landis\/AP Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Protections were also offered for\u200c the use of AI. Stu<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hollywood actors have called for a union-wide vote on Sept. 5 to decide whether to strike against video game makers. Negotiations with major studios and streaming services have hit a deadlock. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) national board has already voted to send members ballots to oppose 10 video game companies.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":242,"featured_media":2022903,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2022902","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2022902","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/242"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2022902"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2022902\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2022903"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2022902"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2022902"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2022902"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}