In July, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) shook Hollywood and the Entertainment industry as a whole by issuing strike that shut a lot of productions down both on the Movie and Television side. 100 days have come and gone with no resolution in sight, affecting worldwide film festivals and award shows. Today, SAG-AFTRA’s National Board has voted unanimously to send a strike authorization vote to SAG-AFTRA members in preparation of the union’s forthcoming bargaining dates with signatory video game companies such as Activision, EA, Epic Games, Take 2, WB Games, and more.
In an official press release, SAG-AFTRA wrote “It has been nearly a year since SAG-AFTRA’s video game contract, the Interactive Media Agreement, was extended beyond the original expiration date as we negotiated with the companies for critical terms SAG-AFTRA members need. Unfortunately, throughout the negotiations, the companies have failed to address those needs. For this reason, the negotiating committee and National Board unanimously agreed that the union should have a member-approved strike authorization in hand when bargaining resumes on Sept. 26.
If the strike authorization vote were to pass, it wouldn’t initiate a strike. The authorization permits the National Board to declare a strike if video game companies fail to negotiate fairly. “The union is fighting for protective language in the contract that will require informed consent and appropriate payment for the creation and use of digital replicas and for training AI systems with our members’ performances,” SAG-AFTRA said.
According to SAG-AFTRA, unregulated use of AI poses an enormous threat to artists professions especially when it comes from “performance capture” where trained professionals, including stunt performers, provide digitally captured performances used to give expressive movement to video game characters.
In addition to AI protections, SAG-AFTRA is also seeking the same wage increases for video game performers as for those who work under the film and television contracts: 11% retroactive to expiration and 4% increases in the second and third years of the agreement — necessary for members’ wages to keep up with inflation. They are also asking for on-camera performers to have the same five-minutes-per-hour rest period that off-camera performers are entitled to and for a set medic to be present when stunts or hazardous work is performed just like on a film or television set; prohibitions against stunts on self-taped auditions; and vocal stress protections.
“Here we go again! Now our Interactive (Video Game) Agreement is at a stalemate too. Once again we are facing employer greed and disrespect. Once again artificial intelligence is putting our members in jeopardy of reducing their opportunity to work. And once again, SAG-AFTRA is standing up to tyranny on behalf of its members,” said SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher.
“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. We at SAG-AFTRA say NO! Not on our watch!”
SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland explained, “The voice and performance capture artists who bring video game characters to life deserve a contract that reflects the value they bring to the multibillion-dollar gaming industry. Voice and performance capture AI are already among the most advanced uses of AI: the threat is here and it is real. Without contractual protections, the employers are asking performers to unknowingly participate in the extinction of their artistry and livelihoods.”
Whether or not a strike would affect certain video games currently in production if a strike were to pass is something we’ll have to wait and see if it happens.