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‘CEOs of Disney, Netflix, and other companies reportedly left negotiations.’
The Writers Guild of America recently reached a deal to resume working, but the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has hit a roadblock in their negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). Talks broke down on Wednesday night, with CEOs reportedly walking away without making a counteroffer, according to a statement from SAG-AFTRA’s negotiating committee. The CEOs involved, including Disney’s Bob Iger and Netflix’s Ted Sarandos, had been personally meeting with SAG-AFTRA negotiators since early October.
SAG-AFTRA has been striking since mid-July, seeking better protections and compensation for actors. The union claims that the AMPTP refuses to protect performers from being replaced by AI, increase wages to keep up with inflation, and share revenue generated by the actors’ work. The AMPTP argues that a requested cut in streaming revenue would cost $800 million a year, but SAG-AFTRA believes this figure is inflated. The union accuses the AMPTP of using tactics to deceive members and undermine support.
For now, SAG-AFTRA is urging its members to continue showing up at picket lines and solidarity events. The committee is still working to reach an agreement that addresses the concerns of actors.