The WGA and SAG-AFTRA continue to fight hard for proper wages, residual pay, and fairness for their workers and staff. Given the strike against the AMPTP, there’s been little members of SAG-AFTRA can participate in. Commercials and video games are currently the remaining options. But, SAG-AFTRA is putting forth a vote for strike authorization over interactive media.
This is, in a word, HUGE.
The entirety of the US entertainment industry is grinding to a dizzying halt. And this should be extremely worrying for developers and corporations alike. One thing is becoming increasingly clear. This isn’t going to stop.
The video game and animation industries currently suffer from the same problems that WGA and SAG-AFTRA are fighting against. Unfortunately, due to contractual obligations, the animation side of entertainment can’t strike in solidarity. Though it has given animators a louder voice for speaking out against industry mistreatment. But there’s no such rule against the video game side. SAG-AFTRA is holding a Q&A session for deciding whether or not to strike within the Interactive Media branch of the union as well.
The Fight Goes On
“For nearly a year, the Interactive Media (Video Game) Agreement Negotiating Committee has been bargaining in good faith with signatory video game companies, but the employers have refused to agree to vital terms our members need.” the announcement reads. The session is obviously only for SAG-AFTRA members only. Postcards to register for the vote have been sent out. We can’t think that there won’t be a resounding yes from the Interactive Media branch. And that should be making the stubborn corporations sweat even more. Companies like Disney Interactive, Amazon, and Sony could face some significant trouble. If Interactive Media strikes, that’s another limb of profit lopped off for larger corporations. And a stonewalling of projects that has never been seen in entertainment history.
