“Shining a Spotlight on Striking Workers During Awards Season: The SAG-AFTRA Message”
The performers’ union SAG-AFTRA has responded to the announcement of The Game Awards nominations by urging individuals not to overlook the striking laborers during awards season.
Many unionized actors working in the gaming sector are presently on strike to obtain improved AI safeguards and working conditions.
SAG-AFTRA noted that its members have been on strike for nearly four months after initially opting to stop work in late July, and are clearly hoping that this situation is considered as prominent events like The Game Awards take the spotlight.
“SAG-AFTRA congratulates the skilled performers whose contributions have been acknowledged with a Game Awards nomination, as well as the outstanding developers whose ingenuity and dedication energize this industry we cherish,” stated an announcement released by the union.
SAG-AFTRA on strike for 116 days
“On this occasion, it’s essential to not lose sight of the fact that thousands of video game voice and motion performers have been striking for 116 days, following over 18 months of talks that did not yield an agreement encompassing fundamental consent, compensation, and transparency safeguards concerning AI usage.
“We appreciate everyone who has shown their support for our striking video game performers, including the 130 games that have signed interim and tiered-rate agreements, the fantastic community of fans and allies, and our union colleagues both domestically and abroad.”
SAG-AFTRA has successfully secured several initiatives through interim agreements since initiating the strike. These temporary agreements enable unionized employees to continue working on selected titles without breaching the proverbial (and often quite literal) picket line.
It has also acquired improved conditions for performers involved in localization and negotiated a deal with AI-driven voice company Ethovox to ensure that actors who choose to collaborate with the agency are “protected and fairly compensated.”
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News Editor, GameDeveloper.com
Game Developer news editor Chris Kerr is an award-winning journalist with over ten years of experience in the gaming sector. His byline has appeared in leading print and digital media outlets including Edge, Stuff, Wireframe, International Business Times, and PocketGamer.biz. Throughout his career, Chris has covered major industry events such as GDC, PAX Australia, Gamescom, Paris Games Week, and Develop Brighton. He has served as a judge at The Develop Star Awards on multiple occasions and has appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live to discuss breaking news.