Members of SAG-AFTRA have voted overwhelmingly in favor of authorizing a strike concerning video game actors and performers. With a participation rate of 27.47% of eligible voters, a remarkable 98.32% approved the strike authorization. This development could have a significant impact on the video game industry, although it doesn’t necessarily indicate that a strike will take place.

Voting Details and Implications

Out of 34,600 members who cast their ballots, nearly all voted for the strike authorization. It’s crucial to understand that this approval doesn’t automatically lead to a strike. Instead, it grants the union the authority to call a strike if ongoing negotiations fail to result in a satisfactory agreement.

Historical Context: Interactive Media Agreement

Earlier this month, SAG-AFTRA encouraged its members to vote on authorizing a strike to negotiate terms under its Interactive Media Agreement. This contract outlines the working conditions, compensation, and other employment terms for actors and performers in the video game industry. The union aims to reach an agreement with several video game publishers and developers.

Statements from SAG-AFTRA Leadership

SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher emphasized the need for urgency. “It’s time for video game companies to stop playing games and get serious about reaching an agreement on this contract,” Drescher said. She also pointed out that video game companies are enjoying significant profits while their performers lack a viable career path under the current terms.

Ongoing Negotiations

Since 2022, SAG-AFTRA has been in negotiations with multiple video game companies, including Activision Productions, Electronic Arts Productions, and Epic Games. The next set of bargaining sessions are scheduled for September 26, 27, and 28. Despite multiple rounds of discussions, both parties have yet to reach an agreement that satisfies the performers’ needs.

Critical Issues on the Table

According to Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA’s national executive director and chief negotiator, critical issues such as compensation affected by inflation, the unregulated use of AI, and safety remain unresolved. “Our members are done being exploited,” he said. The strong vote for strike authorization suggests that the union is prepared to escalate its actions if these issues are not adequately addressed.

Conclusion and Next Steps

The overwhelming vote in favor of strike authorization places significant pressure on the video game industry to address the union’s concerns. If an agreement is not reached in the upcoming bargaining sessions, the industry could face disruptions due to a strike. Therefore, the onus now largely falls on video game companies to engage seriously in negotiations and offer terms that are acceptable to SAG-AFTRA members.

Note: For additional details on SAG-AFTRA’s history and the broader context of labor actions in the video game industry, further reading is available on our website.

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