On July 14th, 2023, the fight for better pay began. Actors have been on strike across America
for 106 days and are not backing down. For years actors have not been paid fairly for the work
they produce or for their reruns that are shown on television years after filming. The Screen
Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, which represents 160,000
actors and media professionals in the industry last went on strike 43 years ago in 1980.
“So many people who are in this profession are suffering without any cause other than the
people are exploiting them and profiting off their own creative talent by not enabling them to
have a living wage,” said Captain America star Hayley Atwell
Actors are protesting studios such as Paramount, Sony, Netflix, Walt Disney Studios and
Warner Bros by refusing to produce work for them because without actors there is no product or
income for these studios.
As of Wednesday, October 12th, negotiations with SAG-AFTRA were suspended after the
actor’s guild’s previous offer.
“It is clear that the gap between the AMPTP and SAG-AFTRA is too great, and conversations
are no longer moving us in a productive direction,” said The Alliance of Motion Picture and
Television Producers.
More recently, CEOs returned to the negotiation table on October 24th to continue negotiations
and passed a comprehensive counteroffer on October 26th.
Many actors have attended the protests in various cities to fight for what is right and show their
support. Some of the actors participating include Pedro Pascal, Jason Sudeikis, Tina Fey, Jesse
Eisenberg and many more.
“We will not have you take away our right to work and earn a decent living. And lastly, and
most importantly, we will not allow you to take away our dignity,” said Breaking Bad actor
Bryan Cranston.
The protest is currently ongoing and is updated through SAG-AFTRA’s statements, which are
posted to their social media accounts and their website. If you would like to help the actors that
help bring the movies and shows that we love to life, you can attend SAG-AFTRA’s public
protests or donate to the striking members.