Hollywood actors set for strike after failed negotiation with streamers

Hollywood actors are set to embark on strike following a failed negotiation with production studios and streaming services.

The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), the union representing over 160,000 Hollywood actors, said its negotiating committee had voted unanimously to recommend a strike.

In a statement on Thursday, Fran Drescher, president of the union, said studios and streamers are “unwilling to offer a fair deal.”

Drescher also said it will be the first time its members have stopped work on movie and television productions since 1980.

“After more than four weeks of bargaining, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) – the entity that represents major studios and streamers, including Amazon, Apple, Disney, NBCUniversal, Netflix, Paramount, Sony and Warner Bros. Discovery – remains unwilling to offer a fair deal on the key issues that are essential to Sag-Aftra members,” the statement reads.

“The companies have refused to meaningfully engage on some topics and others completely stonewalled us.

“Until they do negotiate in good faith, we cannot begin to reach a deal. We have no choice but to move forward in unity, and on behalf of our membership.

“With a strike recommendation to our national board. The board will discuss the issue this morning and will make its decision.”

In May, the Writers Guild of America (WGA), the union representing television and film writers, also went on strike.

The writers demanded pay increases and changes to industry practices that they said forced them to work more for less money.

The simultaneous strike of writers and actors is expected to cause serious disruption to Hollywood.

THE CABLE