UK actors’ union Equity has applauded the “tenacity and persistence” of SAG-AFTRA video game performers, following news the US union has reached a tentative agreement after almost a year on strike. It now calls upon the industry to negotiate for UK performers too.
Yesterday, the US union shared news of its tentative agreement with multiple video game companies over the Interactive Media Agreement. The strike, which began last July, will continue until the agreement is finalised.
A key reason for the strike was the need to protect performers from AI abuse. It’s unclear what protections have been included in this new tentative agreement, but SAG-AFTRA national executive director and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland has stated the “necessary AI guardrails” have been put in place.
“Everyone at SAG-AFTRA is immensely grateful for the sacrifices made by video game performers and the dedication of the Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee throughout these many months of the video game strike,” said Crabtree-Ireland. “Patience and persistence has resulted in a deal that puts in place the necessary AI guardrails that defend performers’ livelihoods in the AI age, alongside other important gains.”
SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher added: “Our video game performers stood strong against the biggest employers in one of the world’s most lucrative industries. Their incredible courage and persistence, combined with the tireless work of our negotiating committee, has at last secured a deal. The needle has been moved forward and we are much better off than before.”
Here in the UK, Equity members have been unable to strike due to UK law, but the union previously stated it stands “in solidarity” with SAG-AFTRA.
Now, in a statement shared with Eurogamer, Equity assistant general secretary for recorded media John Barclay has called upon the industry to negotiate for UK performers too, adding: “The UK cannot be the poor relation”.
“We applaud the tenacity and persistence of the SAG-AFTRA video game performers who have been on strike for nearly a year pursuing an agreement with some of the biggest media companies in the world,” said Barclay. “Important gains have been made and, significantly, agreement has been reached to put in place AI guardrails to defend performers’ livelihoods. We look forward to receiving further details of the tentative agreement.”
He continued: “Equity UK now calls upon the very same global engagers to meet with us to negotiate an agreement for our video games performers in the world’s most lucrative industries that will bring fair rates of pay along with contractual terms covering AI. The UK cannot be the poor relation, especially when the industry and engagers here in the UK are supported by tax breaks. So we call upon the engagers to step up to meet the challenge to make the UK games industry the best it possibly can be for creatives.”
Equity members protested outside this year’s BAFTA Games Awards in April, calling on the games industry to improve conditions for performers. This includes better pay and terms and conditions for their work, as well as AI protection.
At the start of this year, Eurogamer spoke with Mass Effect actor Jennifer Hale on why the SAG-AFTRA strike was taking so long. “[AI is] 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.”