SAG-AFTRA seeks strike authorization towards online game companies

SAG-AFTRA members will vote beginning subsequent week on whether or not to authorize union leaders to name a strike towards online game firms, within the newest signal of spreading labor unrest within the broader leisure sector.

The Display screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Tv and Radio Artists mentioned it’s been practically a 12 months since its contract with online game firms was prolonged from its expiration date.

The guild management’s name for a strike authorization vote comes after the union’s movie and TV actors went on strike in mid-July, becoming a member of Writers Guild of America-represented screenwriters who’ve been on the picket line since early Might.

For online game performers, SAG-AFTRA is in search of wage will increase and protections towards using synthetic intelligence.

The union mentioned its final contract with the online game firms, negotiated in 2017, didn’t tackle key points together with AI — a significant challenge introduced up through the present twin Hollywood strikes, the place movie and TV actors and writers have expressed considerations in regards to the know-how encroaching on their jobs.

“As soon as once more we face employer greed and disrespect,” mentioned SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher in a press release. “As soon as once more synthetic intelligence is placing our members in jeopardy of lowering their alternative to work. And as soon as once more, SAG-AFTRA is standing as much as tyranny on behalf of its members.”

Audrey Cooling, spokesperson for the online game producers who’re social gathering to the Interactive Media Settlement, together with Activision Blizzard and Digital Arts, mentioned the businesses “all need a truthful contract.”

“We’re negotiating in good religion and hope to achieve a mutually useful deal as quickly as attainable,” Cooling mentioned.

Postcards with voting info will probably be mailed to eligible voting members on Tuesday and voting will shut on Sept. 25 at 5 p.m., the union mentioned.

SAG-AFTRA mentioned in a message posted on its web site, “The negotiating committee and Nationwide Board unanimously agreed that the union ought to have a member-approved strike authorization in hand when bargaining resumes on Sept. 26.”