Performers’ guild SAG-AFTRA has released a statement claiming that, if negotiations with major video game companies don’t reach a favorable end by October 19, it will go on strike beginning October 21. The strike would prevent all SAG-AFTRA actors (voice, motion, on-camera performance) from working on games that began development after February 2015. The goal of the negotiations, and the point of the strike, is to win more favorable working conditions and compensation for video game voice actors, who are often asked to perform vocally demanding sessions (e.g. screaming, grunting, dying, and crying) for multiple hours at a time.
“Despite years of concerted effort and negotiating sessions, video game employers have steadfastly refused to reach a fair deal during our contract negotiations,” wrote the guild (via Gamasutra). They’re also asking that all actors, whether they’re part of the union or not, honor the strike.
A law firm representing the accused video game companies, which include giants like Disney, Activision, EA, and Insomniac, issued their own statement condemning the strike. “We have negotiated in good faith for the past 18 months with SAG-AFTRA union leaders, and are making progress toward a new contract. We are deeply disappointed to learn today of the union’s threatened strike and its unilateral violation of the mutually agreed upon ‘news black-out’ on negotiation discussions.”
We should know by Thursday how this all settles, so we’ll keep you updated.