SAG-AFTRA members ratify new 3-year contract

[sandstorm]

SAG-AFTRA, which opened the ratification vote on November 14, has revealed that 78.33% of ballots were in favor of the November 8 tentative agreement with the AMPTP

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- Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) December 6, 2023

• On Nov. 8th, a deal between the AMTPT and SAG-AFTRA was tenatively agreed to.

Comments

[starryowldream]

This contract was awful and the gains were so minimal, and I’m disappointed in my union brothers and sisters for either not voting or opting to vote YES. Less than 40% of eligible members voted. I just don’t understand it. I do realize there are a lot of complaints from members who couldn’t vote because their dues were late. Our own union didn’t allow a waiving of fees an option despite the fact we’ve been on strike. Yes, an extension could have been filed, but several members were still waiting on a response so they had an opportunity to vote. They also made us continue to pay our dues during Covid.

It’s clear that the propaganda campaign worked out great for those who just want to get back to work. I read all 129 pages of the MoA, and there are so many loopholes for the AMPTP when it comes to AI. There’s all this talk about how the union will fight for us and there are litigation options. This may be true for A-List actors, but for the working actor (think 5 line co-star roles like a barista, classmate, or a principal or a non A-list guest star), stunt performers, background, loopers, etc, that won’t be the case.

When I voted NO, I thought about everyone in our union down to dancers and loopers and then those that are part of our sister union: IATSE.. Their jobs may be in jeopardy in the next 2 years. Others opted to not even bother to think about the consequences of AI - this will go down the line to hair, makeup, gaffers, PAs, etc because they’ll just use AI to complete the scene.

There needs to be more participation during our elections, so our current leadership can be pushed out. I’m also, again, irked with the fact the media received the results first instead of our own membership.

I’m disgusted with a lot of the actors telling other members that they were losers and idiots if they voted NO. They would tell members if they voted NO, they would be against every actor and ruin the industry. They said our sister unions wouldn’t bother to support if we went back on strike…they called NO voters uneducated and misinformed. They said things like, “it’s not like you’re working anyway.” I didn’t participate in any of these conversations on social media postings, but it was sad to see members tearing apart other members.

During one of the biggest streaming info events, Fran and other members of the boards were laughing at some of the questions or chewing loudly because they didn’t care about the membership’s concerns at that Town Hall event.

Sorry this post is all over the place…I’m just frustrated that this is where we’re at.
I pretty much know my career will be over in the next 3-5 years, and I’ve accepted it. Perhaps, I’ll toss my hat into the ring for AEA.

Maybe everything will be alright, and I guess we’ll have to see what else they can do to help their members in 2.5 years.

[sandstorm]

Thank you for sharing. I know I was happy to see the strike end, but knowing how bad the contract was for AI and learning more, I wouldn't have blamed actors for voting no and going back to it.

[sarahvma]

No, it’s completely valid. My partner was part of a negcom for his own union and he knows full well that when you concede on something that should be a hard line, it’s almost impossible to walk that back for the next contract. I think a lot of extras and day players are about to get screwed, and people earning the most simply don’t care.