SAG-AFTRA Members Vote in Favor of Video Recreation Strike

SAG-AFTRA members have voted to authorize a strike towards the online game trade.

The vote was 98.32% in favor of the strike authorization towards 10 of the main online game corporations, with 34,687 members casting ballots, representing 27.47% of eligible voters. Whereas the authorization doesn’t assure a piece stoppage will happen, the vote permits union negotiators to name for a strike for a brand new Interactive Media Settlement if obligatory.

“After 5 rounds of bargaining, it has grow to be abundantly clear that the online game corporations aren’t prepared to meaningfully interact on the crucial points: compensation undercut by inflation, unregulated use of AI and security,” mentioned Duncan Crabtree-Eire, SAG-AFTRA nationwide govt director and chief negotiator, in a press release. “I stay hopeful that we can attain an settlement that meets members’ wants, however our members are completed being exploited, and if these companies aren’t prepared to supply a good deal, our subsequent cease would be the picket strains.”

“Between the exploitative makes use of of AI and lagging wages, those that work in video video games are going through most of the similar points as those that work in movie and tv,” mentioned chief contracts officer Ray Rodriguez. “This strike authorization makes an emphatic assertion that we should attain an settlement that may pretty compensate these proficient performers, present common sense security measures, and permit them to work with dignity. Our members’ livelihoods rely on it.”