The Screen Actors Guild of America goes on strike

The Actors’ Union of the USA officially declared a strike on Thursday, after failed negotiations with Hollywood studios to sign a new collective agreement.

The United States Interpreters Union is joining the strike that the Writers Union (WGA) has been holding since May, marking the first time in 63 years that they have embarked on a simultaneous strike that could paralyze the entire Hollywood industry.

“Proceed to a strike This is something very serious that can affect thousands, if not millions of people, across the country and the world (…) It is with great sadness that we come to this crossroadsbut we had no other option,” said facility president Fran Drescher.

The decision, previously approved by 98 percent of union members, was officially made after the meeting of the Union’s Board of Directors held this Thursday.

Hollywood downtime

A day earlier, SAG-AFTRA tried to reach reconciliation agreement with the Association of Film and Television Producers (AMPTP), and at their meeting they had the presence of federal mediators as a measure urgency unlock negotiations.

“It is very hard to believe, but we could not get what our members deserve. If he accepted, the situation would only be worse. This is where we set our limit,” Drescher elaborated.

The last time the actors went on strike against the studio was in 1980 because uses from ribbons home video and Pay TVand it lasted three months.

Actors’ and screenwriters’ unions have not gone on strike at the same time for 63 years, and in 1960 they achieved benefits such as access to health insurance and pensions.

But it was the 100-day strike led by writers in 2007-2008. laid the foundations for the current conflict by focusing most of the debate on payment for content distributed over the Internet.

Improvement of working conditions

Now, the demands of both share similarities in matters such as improvement work conditionsfair payment of residual rights by platforms for “streaming” and transparency in the process of calculating those amounts, as well as regulating their use Artificial Intelligence (AI).

“The AMPTP refused to admit that the huge changes in industry and economy They had a harmful influence on those who work for studies,” the president added.

Union leaders spoke with the union that is negotiating on behalf studies and big chains like AmazonApple, Disney and Netflix, starting June 7.

An urgent request sought to resort neutral means to help unblock negotiations, but the union accused the AMPTP of “abusing” its trust by putting a proposal in the press to involve federal mediators before they were aware of it.