Two years after striking, SAG-AFTRA is reentering negotiations for a new contract

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After strikes almost halted film and television production two years ago, the unions for actors and writers are preparing to begin negotiations again.

With current contracts for writers and actors nearing their end, labor unions in the entertainment industry are preparing for a new round of negotiations. The actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA, began talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) on Monday, and these discussions are expected to continue for several weeks. Their current agreement expires on June 30th.

In a statement to The Times, an AMPTP representative said they believe working through the issues facing the industry will lead to a fair agreement. They’re hopeful this agreement will demonstrate their dedication to the talented people who work in the industry and ensure its future success.

The entertainment industry is still bouncing back from the recent strike, and things have changed a lot since the last contract talks. We’re seeing more shows and movies being filmed outside the U.S., fewer projects shooting in Los Angeles, and generally less work for those in front of and behind the camera – including writers, actors, and directors.

As a huge movie and TV fan, I’m following the union negotiations closely. They represent around 160,000 performers, and I know they’re going to be tackling some really important issues like how artificial intelligence will impact our work, fair pay from streaming services – those residuals are crucial – and making sure everyone has solid health and pension plans. A lot of this came up during the last negotiations in 2023, but things are changing so fast now. With streaming services merging and AI developing at warp speed, it’s become a much more complicated situation for everyone involved.

Last autumn, Hollywood met Tilly Norwood, who is considered the first actor created using artificial intelligence. While Tilly hasn’t appeared in any big films or shows yet, many actors’ union members are worried about AI potentially replacing human performers. To address this, the union might suggest a new fee, nicknamed the ‘Tilly tax,’ which would require studios to pay them whenever they use an AI actor. Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the lead negotiator for SAG-AFTRA, discussed this idea with Matt Belloni from Puck at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) last month.

Crabtree-Ireland believes that if synthetic options were priced the same as using a real person, people would always prefer the human option.

Movie and television studios are likely to request longer contracts with talent, increasing the term from three years to five. However, Christopher Nolan, recently elected president of the Directors Guild, has publicly opposed this change.

You know, I was just thinking about what Christopher Nolan said in an interview recently. He pointed out that if they’d signed a long-term deal back in March 2020, things would be drastically different now. It really hit me because the movie business is changing so quickly – the way studios operate is just completely different than it was even a few years ago. It makes you wonder where everything is headed.

The negotiations will feature new leadership on both sides. Sean Astin, known for his role in “Lord of the Rings,” now leads SAG-AFTRA, having been elected in September to replace Fran Drescher. On the AMPTP side, Greg Hessinger, a former SAG national director, took over as president last April.

While these talks aren’t predicted to cause as much trouble as before, Crabtree-Ireland hasn’t dismissed the possibility of a strike.

Speaking at CES, Crabtree-Ireland stated plainly that they won’t agree to any deal that doesn’t treat their members fairly. She believes a strike shouldn’t be necessary, as the companies involved should be willing to negotiate honestly, just as they are.

As a movie buff, it was tough seeing the actors and writers striking. SAG-AFTRA was out for 118 days, and the writers’ strike stretched on for a whopping 148 days! Combined, that made it the second-longest work stoppage in the union’s history – a really significant moment for everyone who cares about film and television.

After SAG-AFTRA reaches an agreement, the Writers Guild will start its negotiations in March, and the Directors Guild will begin bargaining later this spring.

Talks have started, and SAG-AFTRA announced Monday that both sides have agreed not to speak to the press about the negotiations while they are ongoing.

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2026-02-10 00:01