The SAG-AFTRA actors’ strike is set to continue, as the union behind the walkout warned of “alarming loopholes” allowing for “AI abuse” in the latest proposal to end the industrial action, suggesting a deal is still far from close.
Actors from the US union have been on strike since July last year, as the union negotiates with various video game companies on the Interactive Media Agreement. The biggest sticking point is protecting actors from AI abuse.
In a message sent to members last night and shared with Eurogamer, SAG-AFTRA chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland and chair of the Interactive Media Negotiating Committee Sarah Elmaleh provided an update on why the strike remains in effect.
“Though progress has been made and agreements have been reached on certain provisions since we launched our strike last year, the last proposal the bargaining group made is still filled with alarming loopholes that will leave our members vulnerable to AI abuse,” the message reads.
“The union recently submitted a counter to this proposal that diligently addresses all of the loopholes and would result in a contract that offers the minimum protections our members need in order to maintain sustainable careers as video game performers.
“The bargaining group would have you believe that we are close to reaching a deal. This is not the case. They also are hoping our members will turn on each other.”
The pair claim video game producers want to use all past performances, and any from outside the contract, without protections. It means actors could be told nothing about their voice being used as AI, offered nothing in payment, and left without a method to dispute it. Further, it’s claimed producers want to use an AI replica to continue an actor’s work during a future strike. And if consent is given to AI, producers can refuse to tell performers how it’s been used.
However, SAG-AFTRA has created an interim agreement, which has been signed by the producers of over 160 games. The pair claim earnings from these projects exceed that of non-struck games.
“Those agreements contain the protections we have been asking the bargaining group for – terms that are clearly feasible and acceptable to a great number of game companies of all sizes, even as the bargaining companies resist,” reads the message.
What’s more, while the strike is ongoing, employers are seeking other performers “they can exploit to fill those roles”. The union urges performers to “seriously consider the consequences”, not only in undermining the strike but opening performers to AI misuse.
Earlier this month, members of the union held a strike picket outside WB Games in LA, as reported by Variety.
Striking actors included Spider-Man voice actor Yuri Lowenthal. “It boils down to three things for me,” he told Variety.
“One is consent that you don’t use the data that you’ve recorded from us to manufacture a performance that we had no say over. Two, compensation: if you’re going to do something like that, then we deserve a piece of that. Otherwise, actors won’t get paid anymore, and it’s all over for us. And three: control, being able to track that sort of stuff and know where it’s going.”
SAG-AFTRA’s next strike picket will be on 18th March at Disney Character Voices in Burbank.
At the start of the year, Mass Effect voice actor Jennifer Hale spoke to Eurogamer about why the strike remains ongoing.
“It’s a huge issue for all of us and the repercussions are vast,” she said. “So to me, it makes sense that everyone needs to take their time. As performers – and we saw this in the writers strike and the theatrical contract strike – we’re just the canary in the coal mine.”