Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re undoubtedly familiar with the ongoing Hollywood strikes paralyzing the billion-dollar entertainment industry. Although the primary impact of these strikes has been on the film and television sectors, it appears that the world of gaming is about to step into the spotlight of labor disputes as well.
The Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), the organization that represents actors within the entertainment industry, has revealed that discussions with video game companies have hit an impasse. In light of this, the union’s National Board has taken the decision to grant approval for a vote regarding a potential strike.
To put it simply, the performers who fall under the Interactive Media Agreement contract can now initiate a strike action if the current negotiations do not bear the desired outcomes.
In a statement addressing the matter, Fran Drescher, the president of SAG-AFTRA, shared her thoughts, saying: “Now our Interactive (Video Game) Agreement is at a stalemate too. The overlap of these two SAG-AFTRA contracts is no coincidence, but rather a predictable issue impacting our industry as well as others all over the world. The disease of greed is spreading like wildfire ready to burn workers out of their livelihoods and humans out of their usefulness.”
In the event of a strike, the following game companies will be impacted:
- Activision Productions Inc.
- Blindlight LLC
- Disney Character Voices Inc.
- Electronic Arts Productions Inc.
- Epic Games, Inc.
- Formosa Interactive LLC
- Insomniac Games Inc.
- Take 2 Productions Inc.
- VoiceWorks Productions Inc.
- WB Games Inc.
The Interactive Media Agreement contract covers all voice-over and performance-capture artists. The contract, which was drawn in 2017, was reviewed in 2020, resulting in a progressive augmentation of wage minimums by 3% each year, coupled with an increase of 0.5% in employer contributions towards health and retirement benefits. Although the contract was originally slated for review in November last year, its expiration date was extended by a year to facilitate more discussions.
SAG-AFTRA’s stipulations revolve around safeguarding performers in the gaming industry from the encroaching risks posed by artificial intelligence. In addition to this, the guild is demanding an 11% retroactive increase in compensation for video game performers and a 4% increase in the second and third years of the agreement, ensuring members’ remuneration remains the same despite inflation.
Finally, SAG-AFTRA is pursuing the fundamental safeguards afforded to workers in the film and television industry that includes a five-minute break for every hour performed, a set medic present for stunts or hazardous, strict prohibitions against stunts on self-recorded auditions, and measures to shield against vocal strain.
Eligible members will be sent voting details starting on September 5, and the voting window will conclude at 5 p.m. PT on September 25.
Signatory video game companies will be hoping to avoid a strike, fearing a repeat of the last strike that occurred back in October 2016 and lasted for 183 days, setting a record as the longest strike in the history of the union.
