MIKE ELK, melk@paydayreport.com, @MikeElk
    Elk is the founder and Emmy-nominated senior labor reporter at Payday Report.

    In his latest piece, Elk writes: “Today, over 160,000 SAG-AFTRA (The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) members in TV and film went on strike, joining the 11,000 Writers Guild members, who have already been on strike for nearly three months. The strike marks the first time the two unions have been on strike together in Hollywood in over 60 years.

    “Early Thursday morning, SAG-AFTRA President Fran Dresher said the National Bargaining Committee unanimously recommended to strike. The national union executive board is widely expected to approve a strike Thursday morning, which will be announced at a noon press conference in LA tomorrow.

    “SAG-AFTRA and the studio association AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) are far apart on critical issues, particularly on the studio’s refusal to regulate the use of artificial intelligence.

    “With over 11,000 Writers Guild members out on strike, the studios had hoped to pressure SAG-AFTRA into accepting a contract that undercut striking writers.

    “Many SAG-AFTRA members were incensed by comments made by studio executives to Deadline in which they described their strategy to isolate the Writers Guild from SAG-AFTRA while refusing to negotiate with the Writers Guild.

    “By striking together, SAG-AFTRA has made it more possible for the Writers Guild to get a union contract. The studios have not negotiated with the Writers Guild since they first went out in May.

    “Unions across Hollywood (such as The Union Solidarity Coalition, or TUSC) have also pledged to support SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild if they remain on strike. Hollywood unions hope to use their strikes’ momentum to cover other strikes.

    “Many union members hope the Writers Guild and SAG-AFTRA can together shut down production across Hollywood.”