Hollywood actors suspend negotiations to end the strike and accuse production companies of “greed” and “abusive tactics” | culture

The writers’ strike left the script very high: secret negotiations, talks that lasted only five days, the agreement that came to fruition and was approved by the union by 99%. Therefore, many expected a similar script from the cast. but not. Late Wednesday night (early Thursday morning PT), something went off the rails and everything went to hell. The strike continues without a clear end horizon. Because the Hollywood Actors Guild announced the suspension, without specifying a date for the return, of negotiations with the employers (consisting of six of the largest film studios in the world), which they strongly accuse of “tactics.” offensive” in their negotiations.

The union, known by its English acronym SAG-AFTRA, issued a statement around midnight on Wednesday explaining the “suspension” of talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (Amptp, for its English acronym). It resumed on Monday, October 2. “After productive conversations, it is clear that the gap between Amptp and SAG-AFTRA is too large, and the talks are no longer taking us in a productive direction,” they stated. The message on social media was even harsher: “It is with deep disappointment that we announce that industry CEOs have left the negotiating table, after refusing to meet our latest offer. We negotiated with them in good faith, although last week they made an offer that was surprisingly lower than what was proposed before the strike began. “Our determination is unwavering.”

The union represents more than 160,000 interpreters across the United States, who decided to strike on July 14 to try to improve their economic and working conditions. Their collective contract is renewed every three years, and it was time to improve it, but their demands were not accepted by the big Hollywood studios and platforms, so they stood down and did not meet again until last October 3, after eighty days of strikes and now with the screenwriters, who had been on strike since Nearly five months later, they return to work.

However, negotiations are now taking a step back again. This could be just a misstep, or even a pressure strategy on the part of one party. But the problem could be serious and persist as the industry is paralyzed, already approaching Hollywood’s major awards season – until March 10, when the Oscars are held – which includes many premieres and major movie events. Promotion, which will be decaf this year or disappear.

The union was very harsh in its statements. They state that the companies they are negotiating with “refuse to protect interpreters from being replaced by artificial intelligence, refuse to raise salaries to beat inflation, and refuse to share even a fraction of the enormous benefits their work generates.” “We have made big and important changes, including a complete shift to the profit-sharing model, which would cost companies as little as 57 cents.” [0,54 céntimos de euros] For each subscriber per year. They rejected the proposal. On the contrary, they used abusive methods.” The proposal to increase salaries would mean paying about $800 million annually (760 euros) among all employees Specialties.

One of the most important issues that the union is fighting for is what the professional lives of actors will be like with the development of artificial intelligence. According to SAG-AFTRA, Amptp required actors to sign a consent form on the first day of work so that a digital replica of the same performer could be used “for an entire film or franchise universe.” The tactics are also not popular. Amptp denies this, but SAG-AFTRA attacks by saying it is “using the same failed strategy as the Writers Guild: spreading misinformation to try to convince our members to abandon solidarity and pressure negotiations.” In fact, at the end of negotiations on Wednesday, NBC President Donna Langley told the network Bloomberg They “spent a lot of time with the actors” and that they hope to “take the time necessary to reach an agreement and get back to work.” At that time, negotiations were already stalled.

These days, the members of the union, led by their head of negotiations, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, sat at the table with the heads of companies such as Warner, Disney, Universal, and Netflix, and according to sources familiar with the matter, they met on Wednesday in a session that was longer and “more conservative” than usual, as media outlets say. Specialized media Delivery time. Amptp stated that they want to “reconsider SAG-AFTRA and return to productive negotiations soon.” They confirm that they have increased the minimum wage rates, as well as protections regarding artificial intelligence, and that they have responded to the requests of actors. They say in their statement: “In general, the company offered the same conditions as those approved by the directors and screenwriters unions, but the actors rejected them.” But when it was announced that the writers had reached an agreement, the head interpreter, who is also actress Fran Drescher, told CNN emphatically: “We are happy with the agreement with the screenwriters, but one agreement does not fit all.”

Today it seems they are back to square one. Sit-ins are still frequent in Los Angeles, actors are headed toward 100 days of unemployment, the industry has lost jobs and the state of California has lost more than $6 billion. From our team,” the federation’s statement said, without giving up. We have sacrificed too much to give in to their evasions and greed. He added: “We are united and ready to negotiate today, tomorrow and every day.”