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The End of the 2023 SAG-AFTRA Strike
Nov. 8th, 2023 09:08 pmSAG-AFTRA reaches a tentative agreement with the AMPTP:
Highly recommend reading the full statement and to keep tabs on further information of what the deal entails, especially since ratification votes still need to happen, but essentially from the sound of things it looks positive. So as of this announcement, the SAG-AFTRA-WGA Srike of 2023 has officially ended.
--
When I think about this strike overall, especially in comparison to the WGA Strike of 2007-2008, it's more about my perspective of the industry as a whole. The previous strike was a big deal at the time that affected many shows during that time, and while we didn't see much of that this go around it's mainly due to the fact that the shows nowadays were already getting unjustly cancelled left and right by companies, the strike just highlighted why that was a problem. Although it's not a secret that the billionaire industry is greedy and exploits its workers, it really gave us a good look behind the curtain just how insidious they can be (ex: them actually outright admitting they were hoping to starve the strikers out so they'd be desperate enough to take any deal no matter how shitty). I think this strike also really gave a lot of people a better understanding of how both writers and actors are treated and what they go through on a day-to-day basis, and social media has really helped bring that to light by having these actors and writers directly address these issues and the harsh realities of working in the entertainment industry and how it affects them, their coworkers and colleagues, and everyone else in between.
And while there were some hiccups here and there, people misunderstanding what "scabbing" is and unfortunately spreading misinformation across social media, I do think social media was more helpful than some of the other websites reporting on the strike that I think is what helped both unions be in public favor. Needless to say, the WGA/SAG-AFTRA strike, at this point in time, was historic. It shouldn't have needed to happen in the first place, but the industry is so fundamentally broken from within that it was necessary to at least move in the right direction.
Plus, 2023 became the year of strikes and workers unionizing! While this happens all the time I do think the attention of the WGA/SAG-AFTRA strike really shined light on these other strikes happening.
In a contract valued at over one billion dollars, we have achieved a deal of extraordinary scope that includes "above-pattern" minimum compensation increases, unprecedented provisions for consent and compensation that will protect members from the threat of AI, and for the first time establishes a streaming participation bonus. Our Pension & Health caps have been substantially raised, which will bring much needed value to our plans. In addition, the deal includes numerous improvements for multiple categories including outsize compensation increases for background performers, and critical contract provisions protecting diverse communities.
Highly recommend reading the full statement and to keep tabs on further information of what the deal entails, especially since ratification votes still need to happen, but essentially from the sound of things it looks positive. So as of this announcement, the SAG-AFTRA-WGA Srike of 2023 has officially ended.
--
When I think about this strike overall, especially in comparison to the WGA Strike of 2007-2008, it's more about my perspective of the industry as a whole. The previous strike was a big deal at the time that affected many shows during that time, and while we didn't see much of that this go around it's mainly due to the fact that the shows nowadays were already getting unjustly cancelled left and right by companies, the strike just highlighted why that was a problem. Although it's not a secret that the billionaire industry is greedy and exploits its workers, it really gave us a good look behind the curtain just how insidious they can be (ex: them actually outright admitting they were hoping to starve the strikers out so they'd be desperate enough to take any deal no matter how shitty). I think this strike also really gave a lot of people a better understanding of how both writers and actors are treated and what they go through on a day-to-day basis, and social media has really helped bring that to light by having these actors and writers directly address these issues and the harsh realities of working in the entertainment industry and how it affects them, their coworkers and colleagues, and everyone else in between.
And while there were some hiccups here and there, people misunderstanding what "scabbing" is and unfortunately spreading misinformation across social media, I do think social media was more helpful than some of the other websites reporting on the strike that I think is what helped both unions be in public favor. Needless to say, the WGA/SAG-AFTRA strike, at this point in time, was historic. It shouldn't have needed to happen in the first place, but the industry is so fundamentally broken from within that it was necessary to at least move in the right direction.
Plus, 2023 became the year of strikes and workers unionizing! While this happens all the time I do think the attention of the WGA/SAG-AFTRA strike really shined light on these other strikes happening.
