SAG-AFTRA Members Overwhelmingly Approve Video Game Strike Authorization

In a resounding show of solidarity, members of SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) have voted overwhelmingly in favor of authorizing a potential strike within the video game industry. The decision to authorize a strike received an astonishing 98.32% support from union members. The vote encompassed 34,687 members, constituting 27.47% of eligible voters, and targeted 10 prominent video game companies.

While this vote does not automatically trigger a work stoppage, it empowers union negotiators to initiate a strike if deemed necessary during discussions for a new Interactive Media Agreement.

Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA’s National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator, expressed the union’s determination, stating, “After five rounds of bargaining, it has become abundantly clear that the video game companies aren’t willing to meaningfully engage on the critical issues: compensation undercut by inflation, unregulated use of AI, and safety. I remain hopeful that we will be able to reach an agreement that meets members’ needs, but our members are done being exploited, and if these corporations aren’t willing to offer a fair deal, our next stop will be the picket lines.”

The voting period commenced on September 5 and concluded on Monday, just ahead of the next negotiation session scheduled for Tuesday. Negotiations surrounding the new contract, which encompasses voice acting, motion capture, stunt work, and other performances in video games, have been in progress since October 2022.

The 10 major video game companies at the forefront of this potential strike are Activision Productions Inc, Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., Epic Games, Take 2 Productions Inc., VoiceWorks Productions Inc., and WB Games Inc.

Ray Rodriguez, Chief Contracts Officer, emphasized the shared challenges faced by video game industry workers, stating, “Between the exploitative uses of AI and lagging wages, those who work in video games are facing many of the same issues as those who work in film and television. This strike authorization makes an emphatic statement that we must reach an agreement that will fairly compensate these talented performers, provide common-sense safety measures, and allow them to work with dignity. Our members’ livelihoods depend on it.”

In response to the SAG-AFTRA vote, a spokesperson for the involved video game companies conveyed their commitment to ongoing negotiations, stating, “We will continue to negotiate in good faith to reach an agreement that reflects the important contributions of SAG-AFTRA-represented performers in video games. We have reached tentative agreements on over half of the proposals and are optimistic we can find a resolution at the bargaining table.”