A date has been set for the Screen Actors Guild to send in their strike authorization votes, January 2. The results will be announced Jan. 23. If 75% of the Guild votes in favor of authorizing a strike, it doesn’t make it a guaranteed thing, it just means that the leadership could call a strike at that time if they deem it necessary. If they do not get the required votes, the leaders have indicated they will sign the deal.
For their part, the guild leaders are stating they would rather not strike but just want the authorization, and the threat of a strike, for negotiating purposes. There is talk that if the strike does go through, much of the industry would switch over to using AFTRA actors as they can’t afford a shutdown at this time. AFTRA is a sister union to SAG and they cover mostly television and radio talent. The New York branch of SAG is against a strike vote and wishes to sign an agreement with AMPTP as soon as possible.
Winter Is Coming: So how does all of this affect Game of Thrones? It depends. A new deal would mean everything would continue as planned on pre-production. A strike, however, could throw a wrench into those plans. It is hard to know.
Would HBO just use AFTRA actors? Curb Your Enthusiasm is an example of an HBO show staffed through AFTRA, so they are not opposed to doing so. Would they just use Equity (the British version of SAG) actors? The BBC’s involvement and the fact that they are likely shooting in the UK might necessitate this either way. Would Benioff and Weiss, members of the WGA, return the favor that SAG members extended to them during their strike by refusing to work? Crossing the picket lines is generally frowned upon, so they may be forced to cease production until a deal is signed.
Either way, we have to cross our fingers and hope that the strike authorization vote fails and that a deal is signed. It is possible that even if SAG does strike it may not affect Thrones at all, but I’d rather not have to take that chance.
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6 Comments
I hope this doesn’t end up in a deadlock like last year. Good to know there are alternatives but don’t this unions usually solidarize with each other and strike too?
gabalQuote Reply
gabal, They have in the past, yeah. But this situation is a bit different. For one, many people feel the timing is bad for a strike. The entertainment industry is still recovering from the writer’s strike and another work stoppage would be disastrous for the industry. And of course, the state of the economy doesn’t help things.
Also all the other unions have already signed deals. The exact same deal that SAG refuses to sign. I’m not sure they are going to be fully behind SAG on this one since they seem to be saying they deserve more than what everyone else got.
WinterIsComingQuote Reply
This blog is fantastic…thank you for taking the time to maintain it. I am so excited about all of this. Great big hugs from Oklahoma, USA.
RebeccaQuote Reply
Yeah, I’m of the opinion that a strike won’t happen, thankfully. Reason being, I doubt SAG is dumb enough to actually strike in the current environment. The WGA strike was bad enough and the economy wasn’t nearly as bad then as it is now.
That being said, Alan Rosenberg is a jackass, so you never can tell with that guy.
DemersonQuote Reply
well people have fought and died for the right to strike. so i cant get pissed of when people do (no matter how inconvenient). but hey im not an American, and have no idea why they’re striking.
keeping an eye on this blog, keep it up.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Awesome blog. thanks for keeping us updated on everything concerning the pilot :]
AnonymousQuote Reply