Studios ask actors union to return to the table after strike’s 100th day

Striking union actors will be headed back to the negotiation table with studios after a 12-day hiatus.

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers asked for talks to resume on Tuesday, according to the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. This announcement came on Saturday, the 100th day the union has been on strike against the following studios: Amazon/MGM, Apple, NBCUniversal, Disney/ABC/Fox, Netflix, Paramount/CBS, Sony, and Warner Bros.

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“It is clear that the strength and solidarity shown by our members has sent an unmistakable message to the CEOs. As we have repeatedly said, we are ready, willing and able to engage on a moment’s notice to meet and to work across the table to achieve a deal that is worthy of your sacrifice,” SAG-AFTRA’s negotiating team wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “We are focused. We are determined. We will not waver.”

This comes after the AMPTP has successfully made an agreement with the Directors Guild of America and the Writers Guild of America. It claimed to have “offered the same terms that were ratified by the DGA and WGA” when it came to “general wage increases, High-Budget [subscription video on demand] residuals, and viewership bonuses.” Still, negotiations came to a head almost two weeks ago with SAG-AFTRA over wage increases, streaming residuals, and protections against artificial intelligence.

AMPTP has not offered a statement ahead of its next round of negotiations. Its agreement with WGA took two rounds of negotiations amid some 144 days on strike.

Earlier this week, actor George Clooney and others offered to raise caps on dues for themselves as the union’s top earners. The group offered SAG-AFTRA $150 million over three years, but their offer was ultimately rejected.

“This generous concept is worthy of consideration, but it is in no way related to and would have no bearing on this present contract or even as a subject of collective bargaining. It is, in fact, prohibited by Federal labor law,” SAG-AFTRA wrote.

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However, SAG-AFTRA has accepted the $15 million Emergency Financial Assistance Program in the form of donations. This rapid fundraising effort came as a result of $1 million and over donations from celebrities including George Clooney, Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Hugh Jackman, Dwayne Johnson, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lopez, Ryan Reynolds, Julia Roberts, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Meryl Streep, and Oprah Winfrey.

Meanwhile, union members will be expected to follow a directive to avoid costumes inspired by struck work this Halloween until the strike is officially over. SAG-AFTRA suggested that a Halloween costume based on any project out of these studios could be considered promotional work for the studios they’re trying to strike against.