Equity has “applauded the tenacity” of SAG-AFTRA union members in their 300 day-long video games strike, with a tentative agreement reached this week. Equity is calling on games producers to enter negotiations for a UK deal in the sector to put in place minimum standards and protections for games performers – one of the only sectors without any such provisions in the UK.
Earlier this week, American union SAG-AFTRA (the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) announced a tentative agreement, and followed up with suspending the games performers’ strike action yesterday (Wednesday). A special session of the SAG-AFTRA national board will take place on Thursday 12 June to consider the tentative agreement, with a view to sending it to members for ratifications, if endorsed.
The UK cannot be the poor relation, especially when the industry and engagers here in the UK are supported by tax breaks.
John Barclay, Equity Assistant General Secretary for Recorded Media
John Barclay, Equity Assistant General Secretary for Recorded Media, said: “We applaud the tenacity and persistence of the SAG-AFTRA video game performers who have been on strike for nearly a year pursuing an agreement with some of the biggest media companies in the world. Important gains have been made and, significantly, agreement has been reached to put in place AI guardrails to defend performers’ livelihoods.”
On announcing the tentative agreement, SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher praised their members, saying, “Our video game performers stood strong against the biggest employers in one of the world’s most lucrative industries. Their incredible courage and persistence, combined with the tireless work of our negotiating committee, has at last secured a deal. The needle has been moved forward and we are much better off than before.”
Equity is in touch with our sister union and will be scrutinising the details of the agreement when they are published.
“Equity UK now calls upon the very same global engagers to meet with us to negotiate an agreement for our video games performers in the world’s most lucrative industries that will bring fair rates of pay along with contractual terms covering AI,” said John Barclay. “The UK cannot be the poor relation, especially when the industry and engagers here in the UK are supported by tax breaks. We have drafted template contracts for Games companies to engage with, and we are ready and waiting for them to come to the table to talk. So, we call upon the engagers to step up to meet the challenge to make the UK games industry the best it possibly can be for creatives.”
A spokesperson for the video games companies said the agreement delivers “wage increases of over 24% for performers, enhanced health and safety protections, and industry-leading AI provisions requiring transparency, consent and compensation for the use of digital replicas in games.”
In Summer 2024, Equity launched best practice guidance on pay, condition, AI, safety and contract terms. Find out more on our Game On! website pages.
Resources for video game performers
