As a seasoned video game enthusiast with decades of gaming under my belt, I can’t help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation as the long-awaited negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and the video game companies are set to resume. The union’s Interactive Media Agreement expiring was like a Game Over screen for many of us fans, and the subsequent strike has been a pause in our gaming journey that we’ve eagerly awaited resolution.
Over two months since SAG-AFTRA initiated their strike against video game companies, both parties – the union and the employer’s negotiating team – have arranged to resume negotiations at the bargaining table.
The talks will carry on on the 23rd of October, as stated in a joint announcement made on Tuesday. The businesses participating in the employer negotiating team are Activision Productions Inc., Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., WB Games Inc, Take 2 Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC and once again, Formosa Interactive LLC.
After a significant hiatus, it’s finally time for face-to-face discussions to resume. The Interactive Media Agreement between the union and the other party expired in November 2022, and it appears that the last physical meeting took place in November of the previous year, shortly following the union’s 118-day strike against film and television companies, a notable event in their history.
On July 25, the union declared a strike against video game companies due to disagreements regarding AI-related provisions. The union’s president, Fran Drescher, stated, “We won’t agree to a contract that lets companies misuse AI at the expense of our members. That’s enough.” However, a spokesperson for the companies argued that an agreement had been reached on 24 out of 25 proposals, including wages, safety, and other matters. The firms were reportedly displeased because the union decided to withdraw from negotiations.
For quite some time now, the union has been staging recurring demonstrations outside the offices of companies that have agreed to terms, such as Disney Character Voices and Electronic Arts. The union has planned a protest on Wednesday to take place at the Warner Bros. Games offices in Burbank.
In these extended contract talks, SAG-AFTRA’s top contracts leader, Ray Rodriguez, has taken charge, while William E. Zuckerman, managing partner at Kauff McGuire & Margolis, has been the main negotiator representing the companies.
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2024-10-15 20:28