Hollywood’s Actors Union Board Ratifies Agreement, Ending Strike with Studio Producers

Hollywood’s Actors Union Board Ratifies Agreement, Ending Strike with Studio Producers

In a decisive move, the board of Hollywood’s actors union ratified the agreement with studio producers on Friday, marking the conclusion of a nearly four-month strike.

Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the executive director and chief negotiator for the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), made the announcement in a press conference held in the afternoon. The agreement was ratified with an overwhelming majority of 86% in favor.

The next phase involves the union’s broader membership voting on the three-year contract. This step allows the union members to evaluate the gains achieved from their commitment to the strike during the summer and early fall, a period they spent on picket lines instead of working on film and television projects. The specifics of the agreement are expected to be disclosed by SAG-AFTRA later in the day.

The mood at SAG-AFTRA’s headquarters in Los Angeles contrasted sharply with the atmosphere of a July news conference. Previously, guild leaders had expressed defiance and anger as they declared a historic strike, joining forces with writers and significantly impacting the industry.

The board’s approval of the agreement was anticipated, as many of its members, including notable actors such as Billy Porter, Jennifer Beals, Sean Astin, and Sharon Stone, were part of the committee that negotiated the deal. The drama surrounding the vote was somewhat diminished due to the union leadership’s immediate declaration of the strike’s end upon reaching a tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers this past Wednesday. This declaration came even before the board had officially ratified the agreement.

Nevertheless, this approval is a critical step towards resuming normal operations in Hollywood, a concept that is ever-evolving. The final significant step in this process is the upcoming vote by the union members, although the date for this vote has not yet been announced.

Following the announcement of the tentative deal, actors generally expressed optimism regarding the outcomes negotiated by their leaders. However, their response to the contract’s details will be crucial. The last screen actors strike in 1980 concluded with considerable dissent among union members, leading to a turbulent month before the contract was ultimately accepted.

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More about Hollywood Strike Resolution

• Hollywood Reporter – Hollywood Strike
• Variety – SAG-AFTRA Ratifies Agreement
• CNN – Hollywood Strike Resolution