In a move that echoes previous labor disputes in the entertainment industry, SAG-AFTRA has declared a strike set to commence at 12:01 a.m. Friday morning. This action follows over a year of protracted negotiations regarding the Interactive Media Agreement (IMA), which governs the working conditions of actors in the video game industry. The announcement, made by SAG-AFTRA spokesperson Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, marks a significant escalation in ongoing talks with major video game publishers, including Disney and Warner Bros.
The crux of the dispute centers on the use of artificial intelligence (A.I.). SAG-AFTRA’s primary concerns involve securing fair compensation and informed consent for the use of actors’ faces, voices, and bodies in A.I. technology. This development comes as no surprise given the union’s long-standing contention over A.I. rights and its insistence on protective measures for its members.
The union has been sitting on a 98.32 percent strike authorization vote since September of last year, a reflection of the widespread dissatisfaction among its members with the slow pace of negotiations. Despite ongoing discussions, which were reportedly still active as recently as yesterday, a resolution remains elusive. Publishers have countered by claiming to offer “meaningful A.I. protections,” including requirements for consent and fair compensation, yet the union remains unconvinced.
This strike follows a similar labor action from October 2016 to September 2017, which was the first major strike in the video game industry. Although the previous strike did not result in any major delays in game releases, it did lead to some recasting with non-union actors. The impact of the current strike remains to be seen, but with the renewed energy from SAG-AFTRA’s recent successes in film and television, the union is expected to make a pronounced impact on the gaming sector.
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