SAG-AFTRA formally calls off industrial action after almost a year of strikes

SAG-AFTRA – the union that represents 160,000 actors, voiceover artists, and other media professionals – has formally called off its industrial action after 11 months of strikes.

The union voted to strike at the end of July 2024 after it failed to reach an agreement with the convenience bargaining group over rights and protection concerns raised by the industry’s exploration of AI technologies. In March, it said it remained “frustratingly far apart” from video game publishers after two Zenless Zone Zero voice actors claimed they had been replaced for participating in the SAG-AFTRA strikes.

Now, however, after announcing yesterday that it had reached a “tentative agreement” with a bargaining group, national executive director and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland officially suspended the strike against the companies signatory to the Interactive Media Agreement, effective from noon PT today, June 11.

All SAG-AFTRA members have now been instructed to return to work on productions under the interactive media agreement (IMA), including work promoting or publicizing projects produced under the IMA, as the board meets in a special session tomorrow, June 10, to consider the tentative agreement.

“If approved, it will be sent out for ratification by the union’s membership in accordance with established policy. Details of the agreement will be released at that time,” the union said.

SAG-AFTRA recently filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board against Llama Productions and Epic Games for using AI to portray Darth Vader in Fortnite.