www.hollywoodreporter.com: After the writers’ union wrapped a surprise deal with studios and streamers over the weekend, SAG-AFTRA announced that it will return to the bargaining table by the end of the month.
The performers’ union and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers resume negotiations on April 27
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I think this has been one of the few examples of modern day unions being powerful in any regard. In the most recent experiences that I have had both with the Union, and from people who are actually on high level lists within specific locals of the Union. The way in which they operate has basically become a way in order to gatekeep work from people. There's just such a system that now systematically ensures that only people that are well known can operate with in the Union, and it might not even be people that are well known. It could just people that the union president knows or people that other higher ups know. The union has gone from a way to ensure equal pay and working hours. To a way to ensure that only your friends get work. Or a way to limit the amount that the people that are currently getting the work will always be the ones getting the work instead of a tool of equality.
I am glad to see that this issue is being brought back to the table and addressed. I think it is very important for guardrails to be established around AI within our industry. I think guardrails need to be established around AI in every creative industry (and many others), so hopefully this is a beginning to a chain reaction. I am glad the union has stood firm up to this point and I hope they continue to do so. It would be extremely disappointing if they were to just give in and allow for no or barely any guardrails around AI. I would be deeply upset, and I believe many others both within and outside the union also would be, so I hope they continue to stand on business and don’t give into demands for AI. The fact this is taking so long for them to negotiate is a bit alarming as to the state of our world, as I hate to see people supposedly defending or arguing for unregulated/poor regulation on AI, but as long as this ends with proper guardrails and Anti-AI policies, I will have a little more hope for the future.
It is so important that these negotiations have resumed, especially given the unprecedented period we are entering with regards to AI and other technological advancements, but also culture shift. No more than a few years ago, everyone would go to the movies, eagerly waiting to see the new release on the big screen. Nowadays, more people than ever are just watching movies at home on their computer or tv, or even a phone. Because of this, I think it is so important that studios reconsider how members of the production are paid given that there are so many proceeds that come from online streaming now. The article also mentioned that they would be discussing more protections against the use of generative AI. From a tech standpoint, I could see many ways that it could be integrated into the editing and filming process. Initially, I was confused about how AI could replace human actors themselves, but then I saw the music video with Tilly Norwood and was quite shocked. It seems like these negotiations have been going on a while, so I hope they end effectively and soon for everyone involved.
It’s honestly relieving to see this issue being brought back to light, despite the unfortunate reality of entertainment and labor practices it reveals. It’s good to see SAG-AFTRA meeting the moment when it comes to advocating for worker’s rights and policies of generative AI in the industry. That being said, the fact that this fight is one that even has to be fought in the first place is upsetting. Studios have so much control over their workers to an often detrimental extent, and the systematic hurdles of unionization in this country only exacerbate the issues. With the consequences generative AI uses in artistic industry entails however, it’s comforting to see how the unions have held strong and firm in their opposition. Additionally, the exploitation of workers is not an issue that is unique to entertainment works at all in this country, many other industries don’t have resources to consider unionization in the first place. With all that said, I hope these negotiations will result in actual, permanent gains for SAG-AFTRA.
That SAG and AFTRA are back at negotiations with AMPTP on April 27th is extremely promising, particularly as quick as the writers’ had a new agreement. Their turnaround time of three weeks has dramatically shifted the momentum. We desperately needed to demonstrate through such a quick win that there are fair agreements available, to avoid another summer of uncertainty this year. Another indicator of urgency from AMPTP was that they moved the date forward from June. Between the contract expiring on June 30th giving both parties a lot of time to discuss the two major topics (AI protections, pay rate increases, and improvements to the casting process), nobody wants to experience 100+ days of strike again, creating this much chaos in the industry. The next unanswered question is whether SAG and AFTRA are going to follow WGA’s lead and ask for four years of an agreement. If they can establish clear guidelines for generative AI and receive a similar health plan infusion as the writers received, that would establish a basis for a stable working relationship in the industry.
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