The membership of SAG-AFTRA has voted to approve the new deal that the union reached with video games companies.
95.04 per cent of the organisation's members voted yes on the new contract, which introduces new protections for performers from the use of artificial intelligence. Furthermore, there's a 15.17 per cent pay increase, as well as addition three per cent rises in the Novembers of 2025, 2026 and 2027.
“I commend the strong leadership of Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Chair Sarah Elmaleh, who remained steadfast through three years of hard bargaining while facing many challenging headwinds during a challenging negotiation cycle," SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher said.
"This deal achieves important progress around A.I. protections, and progress is the name of the game! My sincere respect goes out to the entire video game performer community and their allies for their solidarity during the strike which provided the necessary leverage to secure this deal’s many essential gains.”
SAG-AFTRA chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland added: “All of us at SAG-AFTRA would like to extend our deepest appreciation to the video game performers and allies who endured a great deal of sacrifice throughout the 11-month strike. I’d also like to express my sincerest gratitude to the Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee and its chair, Sarah Elmaleh, who have worked tirelessly for nearly three years in order to achieve these necessary gains and protections alongside our negotiating staff and lead negotiator Ray Rodriguez. Now that the agreement is ratified, video game performers will be able to enjoy meaningful gains and important A.I. protections, which we will continue to build on as uses of this technology settle and evolve.”
SAG-AFTA members went on strike in July 2024.