The British sister union of SAG-AFTRA is standing in “total solidarity” with their U.S. counterparts after a strike was called against major video game studios.
SAG-AFTRA had been in talks over a new contract agreement for close to two years. It would cover voice and performance capture workers on titles from Disney Character Voices, Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts, Warner Bros. Games, Insomniac Games and more. But an impasse over artificial intelligence concerns has resulted in industrial action. “We’re not going to consent to a contract that allows companies to abuse AI to the detriment of our members. Enough is enough,” stated SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher. “When these companies get serious about offering an agreement our members can live — and work — with, we will be here, ready to negotiate.”
Now, Equity, the U.K’s performing arts and entertainment trade union, has weighed in. Made up of 50,000 actors, singers, dancers, designers, directors, comedians, and more, the union boasts Olivia Colman, Brian Cox and Judi Dench among its members and trustees. Ninety-five percent of film, TV and theater made in the U.K., even American productions, are made on Equity agreements.
“Equity stands in total solidarity with SAG-AFTRA who have taken the brave decision to authorize a strike against U.S. video games companies. Voice and performance capture artists are a vital part of this multibillion-dollar industry, bringing to life characters that make games successful,” said Equity’s assistant general secretary John Barclay on Friday. “We stand shoulder to shoulder with SAG-AFTRA as partners in a global fight to secure fair pay and protect our members’ rights, which could not be more urgent as we move forward with artificial intelligence innovation.”
Barclay added that in light of the strike authorization across the Atlantic, studios, producers, and game developers in the U.K. should be operating more transparently with performers. “Like our sister union, Equity is very concerned about the lack of safeguards to protect performers in the unregulated world of AI alongside our members’ health and safety, which is not always being taken seriously.”
In 2022, nearly £200 million ($257m) was paid to games companies in tax relief, with a total of £830 million ($1bn) paid out since 2014. Despite the financial game, Barclay says pay has stagnated alongside vast industry growth. “Equity remains committed to constructive dialogue with voice studios, performance capture studios, publishers, developers and trade bodies and we urge the industry to work with the union so that we can resolve these ongoing issues.”
It has only been around eight months since the conclusion of SAG-AFTRA’s historic 118-day actors strike against the major studios over a new three-year TV/Theatrical contract. The December ratification was valued by the union at $1 billion.
