UK actors’ union Equity is calling on the games industry to improve conditions for performers.
A protest took place outside last night’s BAFTA Games Awards, as Equity members held placards reading “Union contracts in gaming now”.
Performers are seeking better pay and terms and conditions for their work in the industry as part of union-negotiated agreements, which is common practice in the US but less so in the UK.
“It is great to see the successes of the video games industry on show at the BAFTA Games Awards, and for the incredible achievements of its workforce to be celebrated across the categories – from performers, to designers, developers and more,” said John Barclay, Equity’s assistant general secretary for recorded media.
“But Equity is here to make sure the poor practice frequently reported by Equity members does not continue to be ignored by industry leaders. The video games industry is worth over £7bn in the UK alone and in attendance tonight are bosses from some of the richest companies in the world. Yet these companies continue to ignore Equity’s calls to work with us to introduce union-negotiated agreements in the UK that would improve pay, terms and conditions for our members – something that is normal practice in the US.”
He continued: “Pay for video game performers in the UK has stagnated despite games companies receiving almost £200m in tax breaks; performers do not have proper protections from artificial intelligence or NDA misuse; and they need safer workplaces so they don’t injure their vocals or bodies, or experience improper recordings of intimate scenes. In an industry that generates enormous wealth, Equity members deserve better.”
The protest took place outside this year’s BAFTA Games Awards, where Astro Bot took home multiple awards.
This action was part of Equity’s ongoing Game On! campaign to improve the standards for performers working in the games industry.
It mirrors the SAG-AFTRA strike that continues over in the US, largely against the lack of AI protections for performers.
Last month, the US union warned of “alarming loopholes” for “AI abuse” in the latest proposal to end industrial action. Negotiators on behalf of video game companies responded that “meaningful progress” had been made.
Following news of the SAG-AFTRA strike last year, Equity stated it stands “in solidarity”, but would not be authorising a strike.
“Voice and performance capture artists are a vital part of this multibillion-dollar industry, bringing to life characters that make games successful,” read a statement from Equity at the time. “We stand shoulder to shoulder with SAG-AFTRA as partners in a global fight to secure fair pay and protect our members’ rights, which could not be more urgent as we move forward with artificial intelligence innovation.”
However a strike in the UK has not been issued, as “industrial relations legislation in the United Kingdom is very restrictive” and the “employment status of Equity members makes it even more difficult to overcome those hurdles in this context”.
At the start of the year, Eurogamer spoke with voice actor Jennifer Hale (Mass Effect, Bayonetta 3) about the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike and why it’s taking so long to resolve.
“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.”