SAG-AFTRA signals "extremely productive" contract talks with Hollywood studios

SAG-AFTRA have indicated they are making progress in contract negotiations with major Hollywood studios.

In a 'members update' YouTube video recorded June 23 at the two-week mark of their negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland shared no details of the talks but “remain optimistic” that a fair deal can be reached.

The leaders gave their first update since negotiations commenced on June 7, two days after the guild’s members voted 97.9% in favour of authorising a strike if an acceptable deal isn’t reached by the end of the month when the current contract expires.

Recorded outside the negotiating room after Friday’s bargaining session finished, Drescher said: “We’re not providing you with a lot of detailed reports tonight because, well, frankly, it’s very confidential what’s going on in there. But I just want to assure you that we are having an extremely productive negotiations that are laser-focused on all of the crucial issues you told us are most important to you. And we’re standing strong and we’re going to achieve a seminal deal.”

As the guild enters what could be the final week of bargaining before the June 30 expiration of its current contract, Crabtree-Ireland added: “We have a very narrow window of time remaining before our contract expires. We’ve all been working long and hard to move these talks forward and we remain optimistic that we will be able to bring the studios, networks and streamers along to make a fair deal that respects your contributions to the industry.”

The video update comes one day after members of the Directors Guild ratified a new film and TV contract, and 54 days into the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike.