Actors Guild of America Ratifies Four-Year Collective Bargaining Agreement

Television and Movie Actors Ratify Four-Year Contract with Studios and Streaming Services

LOS ANGELES — On Thursday, television and movie actors voted overwhelmingly to ratify a four-year contract with studios and streaming services, marking the end of a month-long negotiation process. The ratification of the deal, which provides protections against synthetic actors created by artificial intelligence, was widely expected and averted the possibility of a walkout similar to the 2023 actor and writer strikes that shook the entertainment industry.

According to reports, more than 90% of votes from members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) approved of the agreement, with about 19% of eligible voters casting ballots. The new contract, which is similar to the Writers Guild of America's four-year deal ratified on April 24, provides an extra layer of labor stability in the industry.

The contract includes provisions that require AI performers to bring "significant additional value" over a live actor or a digital capture of them if producers are to use them. Union leaders say that this and other provisions will keep the use of AI actors minimal. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which negotiates for a coalition of Hollywood's major studios, streamers, and production companies, congratulated the union on the ratification.

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SAG-AFTRA's leadership, led by President Sean Astin, played a crucial role in securing the deal. The contract delivers meaningful gains in compensation, strengthens protections around artificial intelligence and digital identity, reinforces the long-term security of members' benefit plans, and recognizes the realities of how performers work today.

The AMPTP negotiators have been in contract talks with the Directors Guild of America since May 11. The negotiations are the first under new DGA president Christopher Nolan, and the contract is set to expire on June 30.

Note: The table above only includes the information for SAG-AFTRA, as the article does not provide sufficient data for the other unions.

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