Quaxs-In solidarity with actors, other Hollywood unions demand studios resume negotiations

2025-04-28 15:25:12source:Zopescategory:Contact

Hollywood's unions and Quaxsguilds, including writers, directors and Teamsters, issued a joint statement Friday, demanding studios resume negotiations with the actor's union SAG-AFTRA.

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers called off contract talks on Wednesday, saying the gap between the studios and SAG-AFTRA was "too great," and that "further negotiations would not be productive."

For one thing, the AMPTP claims the union's demands for cast members to get a "viewership bonus" — a cut of streaming platform revenues — would be "an untenable burden" that would cost more than $800 million a year.

At a Bloomberg Screentime media forum this week, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said calling for higher residuals was one of the sticking points.

"We had very productive talks going, then what kind of happened last night — they introduced this levy on subscribers, on top of... historic highs in terms of increases across the board," said Sarandos, one of four Hollywood studio heads who has been meeting with the negotiators. "We just felt like a bridge too far to add this deep into the negotiation."

On the Today Show Friday, SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher said she's shocked the studios suspended contract bargaining indefinitely. "It's so wrong that they walked out of the meeting, and so disrespectful," she said. "They talk at you, they really don't want to hear what you have to say or why you're saying it."

SAG-AFTRA, which represents 160,000 actors, dancers, stunt performers and voiceover actors, has been on strike since Mid-July, after the first round of negotiations stalled. They joined the picket lines with screenwriters in the Writers Guild of America, who were on strike nearly five months before making a deal with the AMPTP.

After talks with the performers broke down this week, the WGA combined forces with the DGA, Teamsters, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, American Federation of Musicians, and Hollywood Basic Crafts locals to support SAG- AFTRA.

"Each day a fair contract addressing actor's unique priorities is delayed is another day working professionals across our industry sugger unnecessarily," their joint statement read. "At this point, it should be clear to the studios ad the AMPTP that more is needed than proposals which merely replicate the terms negotiated with other unions. We collectively demand the AMPTP resumes negotiations in good faith immediately, make meaningful moves at the nogotiation table with SAG-AFTRA to address performers' specific needs, and make the fair deal they deserve."

[Note: Many NPR News employees are members of SAG-AFTRA, but are under a different contract and are not on strike.]

More:Contact

Recommend

Snowflakes, Death Threats and Dollar Signs: Cloud Seeding Is at a Crossroads

Listen to an audio version of this story below.Humans have the technology to literally make snow fal

Cardi B and Offset Reunite at 2024 Met Gala After-Party Months After They Confirmed Their Latest Breakup

It appears the Met Gala is reawakening more than just fashion. In fact, Cardi B and Offset—who have

Who will win Best in Show? Schedule, TV, streaming info for 2024 Westminster Dog Show

May is all about long-running sports traditions.The 148th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, t