As a long-time gamer and avid supporter of fair labor practices, I can’t help but feel frustrated and concerned about the ongoing strike by SAG-AFTRA against major video game companies. Having grown up playing games featuring iconic characters brought to life by talented voice actors, I understand the importance of their contributions to the industry.
SAG-AFTRA, the union representing Screen Actors and Artists in television and radio, is once again planning a strike, specifically targeting leading video game companies.
Starting from July 26, 2024, at 12:01 a.m., SAG-AFTRA has announced a halt in work with major video game companies due to a dispute that occurred in 2023.
Ten companies are set to be affected by the strike: Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Epic Games, Insomniac Games Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Take 2 Productions Inc., VoiceWorks Productions Inc., and WB Games Inc.
Why is SAG-AFTRA going on strike against video game companies?
The primary cause of the ongoing strike mainly centers around the use of artificial intelligence. Since last October, SAG-AFTRA has been trying to renegotiate its Interactive Media Agreement with the mentioned ten companies; nonetheless, they have yet to reach an agreement as of now.
Despite reaching consensuses on several key matters for SAG-AFTRA members, the employers are unwilling to explicitly commit, using unambiguous and binding terms, to safeguard all actors under this contract regarding their Artificial Intelligence usage. [
“SAG-AFTRA’s president, Fran Drescher, has made it clear that the union won’t agree to contracts permitting misuse of A.I. at the expense of their members. She emphasized, ‘That’s enough.’ Once these companies present fair agreements for our members in both life and work aspects, SAG-AFTRA will be prepared to discuss terms.”
Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, head of negotiations and executive director at SAG-AFTRA, commented, “The video game sector rakes in billions of dollars yearly. The primary reason for this prosperity is the inventive individuals who develop and produce these games. This encompasses our SAG-AFTRA members who breathe life into iconic game characters through their voices, faces, and movements. These professionals deserve and request the same basic protections as actors in cinema, TV, streaming platforms, and music: reasonable remuneration and the power to approve AI’s usage of their likenesses. Surprisingly, it seems that video game companies have yet to grasp this lesson – our members possess the ability and determination to advocate for fair and just compensation concerning AI, and the public is behind us in this endeavor.”
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2024-07-25 23:40