SAG-AFTRA votes in favour of strike against Activision, EA and more
SAG-AFTRA members have voted in favour of a strike that will affect video game publishers and companies like Activision, Electronic Arts, Epic Games and more.
SAG-AFTRA, which stands for the union of Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, had announced its intention to strike against these companies earlier this month.
Under the Interactive Media Agreement, companies like Activision, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, Take 2 Productions, VoiceWorks Productions and WB Games “failed” to resolve the issues that SAG-AFTRA explained to them upon the renewal of their contract.
“It’s time for the video game companies to stop playing games and get serious about reaching an agreement on this contract… the time is now for these companies – which are making billions of dollars and paying their CEOs lavishly – to give our performers an agreement that keeps performing in video games as a viable career,” president Fran Drescher said in a statement.
The vote was almost unanimous with 98.32 per cent of members of the union arguing in favour of strike authorisation. As a result, SAG-AFTRA is able to sanction a strike immediately should negotiations fail between the union and those included in Interactive Media Agreement.
The next set of negotiations will occur from September 26 to September 28. “We hope the added leverage of a successful strike authorization vote will compel the companies to make significant movement on critical issues where we are still far apart,” SAG-AFTRA said, regarding wages, regulations on the use of artificial intelligence and safety pointers.
“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,” addec Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the union’s national executive director and chief negotiator.
In other gaming news, Quantic Dream‘s Star Wars Eclipse will not safeguard the status of any of its playable characters, allowing playthroughs where “anyone can die”.
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Imogen Donovan
NME
