Photo credit: SAG-AFTRA

The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has announced that their Television, Theatrical, and Streaming Contracts have expired without reaching a new agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).

AMPTP is the entity that represents major studios and streamers, including Amazon, Apple, Disney, NBCUniversal, Netflix, Paramount, Sony and Warner Bros. Discovery.

As a result, SAG-AFTRA has called for a strike, urging its members to stand strong and follow important guidelines to maximize their leverage during this labor action.

In a statement released by the union, SAG-AFTRA emphasized the need for unity among its members and the importance of withholding work from struck employers until a fair deal is reached.

The union has provided information on the types of work that are off limits during the strike and those that members can continue to work on under different contracts.

Members are instructed to refrain from working on projects covered by the Producer-SAG-AFTRA Codified Basic Agreement, SAG-AFTRA Television Agreement (including new media), Special New Media Agreements, Low Budget Theatrical Agreement (LBA), Moderate Low Budget Project Agreement (MPA), Ultra Low Budget Project Agreement (UPA), and the SAG-AFTRA New Media Agreement for High Budget Original or Derivative Programs. This includes both on-camera and off-camera work such as acting, singing, dancing, stunts, puppeteering, voice acting, narrating, singing for ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement), looping, background acting, stand-ins, auditions (including self-tapes), rehearsals, and publicity related to any struck work or struck companies.

SAG-AFTRA members still have the opportunity to work under other contracts during the strike.

Commercials for television, radio, and digital media, including the Influencer Agreement and the Cameo for Business Agreement, are permitted.

Members can also continue working on television programs covered by the Network TV Code, including soap operas, variety shows, talk shows, and game shows.

Other permissible work includes sound recordings, music videos, interactive/video game agreements, corporate/educational and non-broadcast programs, station contracts and broadcast news, television and new media animation, dubbing, audiobooks, short projects, micro-budget projects, student films, independent new media projects, independent podcasts, and certain separately negotiated basic cable agreements.

The Network Television Code, which covers non-dramatic programs such as variety shows, talk shows, game shows, reality/competition shows, special events, award shows, and documentaries (excluding those produced for theatrical exhibition), remains unstruck.

Members are encouraged to honor their contracts under this code and continue working on such productions.

SAG-AFTRA stressed that violations of the strike order and engagement in struck work may result in disciplinary action as per the union's constitution and membership rules.

Non-members seeking future membership in SAG-AFTRA will not be permitted to join if they perform covered services for a struck company during the strike.