Actors' and writers' unions on strike for the first time since 1960. How does this impact the entertainment industry?

For the first time since 1960, both the actors' and writers' unions are on strike. The strike comes after weeks of failed negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents the major motion picture studios that include Paramount, Sony, Netflix, Walt Disney Studios and Warner Bros.

SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher and Meredith Stiehm, president of Writers Guild of America West.Photo byAP, CHRIS PIZZELLO

SAG-AFTRA is the actors' union who represents around 160,000 performers, including film and television actors, worldwide. Their national board met on Thursday morning and voted unanimously to strike after its contract ran out Wednesday night. This followed a 2-week extension at the end of June to keep negotiations with the studios going. The guild has sent members its strike rules, which order them to “cease rendering all services and performing all work” covered by the TV/Theatrical Contracts according to Deadline.com. The “Strike Notice and Order” also says that members “must not cross SAG-AFTRA picket lines,” “must instruct their agent and/or other representatives to discontinue conducting negotiations on their behalf with the studios, streamers and networks for covered services,” and “must inform SAG-AFTRA of all strikebreaking activity.”

SAG-AFTRA now joins the Writers Guild of America, who has been on strike since May 2nd with no signs of slowing down. The WGA said in a statement: “We stand solidly behind our union siblings in SAG-AFTRA as they begin their work stoppage. The last time both of our unions struck at the same time, actors and writers won landmark provisions that we all continue to benefit from today - residuals and pension and health funds.”

Photo byGetty, Mario Tama

Both SAG and WGA representatives have voiced their disappointment that AMPTP did not fairly and reasonably address the important issues raised in their negotiations.

Actors and other SAG-AFTRA members are fighting for better pay and working conditions, as well as contracts that include provisions on artificial intelligence. The WGA’s demands are similar to the demands of SAG-AFTRA, calling for better pay and working conditions, as well as fairer contracts that include stipulations about the use of artificial intelligence. The writers’ strike has already slowed down productions on many television shows. However, reality shows, entertainment news, sports, and daytime talk shows are not subject to the WGA agreement and have been unaffected by the strike. But now, the SAG-AFTRA strike will disrupt both the film and television industry, shutting down the production of movies and television shows throughout the United States and overseas. Actors on strike are also prohibited from promoting their latest projects via interviews and red-carpet appearances.

With both the actors and writers now on strike, the entertainment industry is essentially closed for business.