SAG-AFTRA Video Game Negotiations Extended Amid Strike

SAG-AFTRA and a coalition of video game companies have extended negotiations after returning to talks for three days but failing to reach a deal.

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The union announced the decision on Saturday, adding that dates were not yet set and would later be announced. Meanwhile, the union’s strike against employers signed to its Interactive Media Agreement -— which is nearing its 100-day mark — continues.

“With tentative agreements on 24 out of 25 proposals, we are optimistic about reaching a final agreement soon as negotiations continue,” a representative for the employer coalition told The Hollywood Reporter .

The union’s performers have been striking Activision Productions Inc., Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Insomniac Games Inc., Take 2 Productions Inc., WB Games Inc., Blindlight LLC, Formosa Interactive LLC and Llama Productions LLC since July 26 as the labor group has clashed with the employers over AI provisions in its contract.

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The two sides returned to the negotiations table in person on Oct. 23 in an attempt to reach a deal. In the meantime, the union announced the day prior that more than 120 games from 49 companies had signed interim agreements or tiered-budget agreements with the union, essentially agreeing to the union’s AI asks. Union performers can work under titles that are signatory to those contracts during the work stoppage.

During the strike, SAG-AFTRA has called an additional work stoppage against marquee title League of Legends after claiming that producer Formosa Interactive “tried to subvert” the strike on an unnamed game by attempting to hire nonunion performers through a shell company. Formosa Group has said it “fully reject[s]” the allegations. An unfair labor practice charge filed with the National Labor Relations Board has not yet been resolved.

SAG-AFTRA’s chief contracts officer Ray Rodriguez is heading up negotiations for the union, while Kauff McGuire & Margolis managing partner William E. Zuckerman is representing the employers.

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