The union says its video game agreement "is at a stalemate too".
Actors union SAG-AFTRA will cast ballots to see if it will expand its ongoing Hollywood strike to include the video games industry.
“It has been nearly a year since SAG-AFTRA’s video game contract, the Interactive Media Agreement, was extended beyond the original expiration date as we negotiated with the companies for critical terms SAG-AFTRA members need,” the union began in a statement.
“Unfortunately, throughout the negotiations, the companies have failed to address those needs,” it continued. “For this reason, the negotiating committee and National Board unanimously agreed that the union should have a member-approved strike authorization in hand when bargaining resumes on Sept. 26.”
Game companies named in the statement include the likes of Activision Blizzard, Disney, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Insomniac Games, Take 2 and Warner Bros.
“Here we go again! Now our Interactive (Video Game) Agreement is at a stalemate too,” said SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher. “Once again we are facing employer greed and disrespect. Once again artificial intelligence is putting our members in jeopardy of reducing their opportunity to work. And once again, SAG-AFTRA is standing up to tyranny on behalf of its members.”
Work by voice actors doesn’t end there, the union pointed out, adding that “[w]ork under the Interactive Media Agreement also includes a great deal of ‘performance capture,’ where trained professionals, many of whom are stunt performers, provide digitally captured performances used to give expressive movement to video game characters.”
As with traditional film and TV, the union is fearful that AI could be used to replace actors, and for a very reduced cost.
The union will seek for AI protections, rest period entitlements, and additional safety precautions alongside “the same wage increases” it’s seeking for those in film and TV: 11% retroactive to expiration and 4% increases in the second and third years of the agreement.
“A successful strike authorization vote doesn’t initiate a strike,” the union added. “Instead, the strike authorization permits the National Board to declare a strike if the video game companies fail to negotiate fairly with SAG-AFTRA for the benefit of its members. The union is fighting for protective language in the contract that will require informed consent and appropriate payment for the creation and use of digital replicas and for training AI systems with our members’ performances.”
SAG-AFTRA’s film and TV strike began on 14 July 2023.
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