Union and Hollywood Studios Resume Negotiations After Two-Week Pause
SAG-AFTRA and Hollywood’s major studios are set to return to the bargaining table on Tuesday, following a two-week hiatus. The management side called for a halt to talks, citing significant differences between the two parties. However, the union’s negotiating committee confirmed that the outreach to resume talks came from the management side.
The SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee expressed their gratitude to their members in a message, stating, “It is clear that the strength and solidarity shown by our members has sent an unmistakable message to the CEOs. As we have repeatedly said, we are ready, willing and able to engage on a moment’s notice to meet and to work across the table to achieve a deal that is worthy of your sacrifice.”
The resumption of negotiations was announced in a joint statement from SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The statement also mentioned the presence of executives from AMPTP member companies during the bargaining session. This comes as SAG-AFTRA’s industry-wide strike reaches its 100th day.
The decision to return to the bargaining table comes amidst increasing pressure on SAG-AFTRA leadership to find a resolution. Actor George Clooney recently proposed an alternative plan to secure higher streaming residuals, causing unrest within the union’s ranks.
The talks were abruptly paused on October 11, with the AMPTP stating that the two sides were too far apart on key issues. This decision frustrated studio leaders, who had spent five full days in negotiations without successfully bridging the gaps. Fran Drescher and Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, union leaders, intensified picket activity and conducted a media tour to emphasize that the deal terms on the table were insufficient to end the strike.
There is now a sense of urgency to finalize negotiations as time runs out to shoot new TV episodes or movies before the end of the year. Industry insiders initially eyed the week of November 6 as a potential date to resume filming.
It remains uncertain whether the same executives who were involved in the previous negotiations with the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA will take part in the new round of talks. The previous negotiations included Disney’s Bob Iger, NBCUniversal’s Donna Langley, Netflix’s Ted Sarandos, and Warner Bros. Discovery’s David Zaslav.
The SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee reassured members that they are focused, determined, and will not waver. They emphasized their commitment to the cause, declaring, “One day longer, one day stronger, as long as it takes.”
Negotiations are set to resume on Tuesday, October 24, at SAG-AFTRA Plaza.