SAG-AFTRA Votes To Move Towards Strike Authorization

With the WGA strike ongoing, another major union in the entertainment industry has moved to prepare itself for a strike as well.

Per the SAG-AFTRA website, the national board for the union has voted to allow for a strike authorization vote should negotiations not in their favor during their upcoming contract renegotiation. To be clear, this does not mean that the Screen Actors Guild is going to strike. However, this does increase the bargaining power the guild has in negotiations with the studios because they are able to call for a full strike authorization vote the way that the WGA did last month ahead of the old contract terminating.

According to the press release, postcards will be sent to members this coming Thursday with instructions on how to vote and voting will close on June 5th, 2023 at 5 PM PST.

This would not be the first time SAG has gone on strike. Back in 1980, there was a lengthy walkout as a result of a contract dispute relating to royalties stemming from VHS sales.