SAG-AFTRA members have voted overwhelmingly in favor of authorizing a strike against video game companies. The authorization vote, which saw 98.32% of the 34,687 ballots cast in favor of striking, is a response to the ongoing negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and the companies involved in the Interactive Media Agreement (IMA) that covers members’ work in the video game industry.
While the strike authorization does not immediately call for a strike, it serves as a clear message to the video game companies that SAG-AFTRA members are prepared to take action if their demands are not met. The key issues at stake in the negotiations include compensation that keeps up with inflation, regulations on the use of artificial intelligence (AI), and safety measures for performers.
Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA’s national executive director and chief negotiator, expressed disappointment with the video game companies’ lack of meaningful engagement on these critical issues. He emphasized that the members are tired of being exploited and that if fair agreements are not reached, they will take to the picket lines.
The use of AI in video games is a particularly salient concern for performers. Without proper limits in place, their motion-captured performances could be used without their approval or compensation to train AI systems. SAG-AFTRA aims to address this and other challenges through the negotiation process.
The strike authorization for the IMA negotiations mirrors the ongoing strike in the film and television industry, where compensation and AI regulations are also key concerns. Ray Rodriguez, SAG-AFTRA’s chief contracts officer, emphasized that a fair agreement is crucial to ensuring that performers in the video game industry are properly compensated, protected by safety measures, and able to work with dignity.
The next bargaining session between SAG-AFTRA and the video game studios is scheduled for September 26-28. The union hopes that the strong support for the strike authorization will provide additional leverage in the negotiations and lead to a resolution that meets the needs of its members.
It remains to be seen how studios not covered by the IMA will respond if a strike is called. As negotiations continue, SAG-AFTRA is committed to advocating for the rights and fair treatment of performers in the video game industry.
