SAG-AFTRA, the actors' guild, has ratified a new TV and film contract with the studios, following a strike that lasted 118 days. The agreement, which received a 78.33% approval from members, includes gains of over $1 billion and protections around the use of artificial intelligence technology. The contract also strengthens benefit plans and aims for equitable treatment of all members. Despite some dissent among members, SAG-AFTRA leadership believes that the gains made in this contract lay the groundwork for a better industry.
Members of the SAG-AFTRA union are engaged in heated debate over the merits of a tentative deal reached with studios and streamers, particularly regarding the agreement's AI protections. While it is unusual for SAG-AFTRA members to vote against ratifying a deal, online forums have sparked uncertainty about the outcome of the ratification vote. Some members have expressed concerns about the contract's allowance for synthetic performers, the use of SAG-AFTRA performances to train AI tools, and consent requirements for actors. Union leaders argue that the AI protections are a starting point and negotiations will continue in the future. The results of the ratification vote will have implications for the union's leadership and member engagement.
MGM casino workers in Detroit may soon return to work as a tentative deal has been reached with the union. The details of the agreement will be released after a ratification vote on Saturday. Workers have been on strike for 42 days, primarily seeking a pay raise for their service during the COVID-19 pandemic. The strike at Hollywood at Greektown and Motor City Casino has already ended with workers voting in favor of new contracts. The MGM workers had previously rejected the same offer, citing dissatisfaction with the pay raise. The workers will vote on the new contract on Saturday.
SAG-AFTRA has released the full text of the tentative agreement reached with studios, ending their four-month-long strike. The 129-page Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) is available for members to review during the ratification voting period, which runs until December 5. The agreement is valued at over one billion dollars and includes new compensation and benefit plan funding. It establishes AI guardrails, hair and makeup equity, increased background coverage, streaming residuals, and a streaming success fund. Some members have criticized the deal, leading to the release of the full document.
The United Auto Workers (UAW) deal to end the General Motors (GM) strike may be in trouble as a growing number of rank-and-file autoworkers are voting against the deals with Ford and GM, despite significant pay increases. Recent votes at GM plants in Michigan and Tennessee, as well as at a Ford plant in Kentucky, have shown opposition to the deals. While the majority of members still support the deals, the votes are not large enough to ensure passage, and a "no" vote could lead to a resumption of the strike. The UAW members at Mack Truck have already voted down a tentative agreement and are currently on strike.
The faculty union at Eastern Illinois University has suspended its strike, and classes will resume on April 14. The union announced its decision to pause while officially considering the administration’s offer. All members will vote to ratify the agreement sometime next week, but a date has not been set. The absence of a provision to do work missed during the strike made it a difficult choice, but the union hopes for a quick resolution so it doesn’t postpone the ratification vote.
