LOS ANGELES: Video game voice actors and motion capture performers have voted to authorize a strike if talks on a new labour contract fail, setting the stage for another possible work stoppage in Hollywood.
Following the conclusion of the voting process on Monday, the SAG-AFTRA union announced that an impressive 98.32% of those who participated in the balloting had given their consent to authorize a strike.
Negotiations for a fresh labor agreement with gaming companies are scheduled to commence on Tuesday. SAG-AFTRA is the same union that represented film and television actors who embarked on a strike in July, marking a rare occurrence of simultaneous work stoppages in Hollywood for the first time in 63 years.
In May, approximately 11,500 members of the Writers Guild of America went on strike, but they have since reached a preliminary labor deal with major studios.
The agreement covering video game performers under SAG-AFTRA had expired last November and has been extended on a month-to-month basis as the union engaged in negotiations with prominent video game corporations. Key concerns for SAG-AFTRA include securing higher pay, better medical treatment and breaks for motion capture performers, as well as safeguards against potential exploitation by artificial intelligence (AI).
These concerns mirror those previously raised by Hollywood writers and SAG-AFTRA members operating under different contracts. Ashly Burch, a voice actor known for her work in “Horizon Zero Dawn,” emphasized the significance of this moment for the industry, particularly in relation to AI, which currently lacks adequate protections. Burch warned that individuals could unwittingly relinquish their rights to their voice or movements when signing contracts.
SAG-AFTRA is pushing for salary increases for video game performers, asserting that their compensation has not kept pace with inflation, and is advocating for enhanced protections for motion capture artists who use markers or sensors on their skin or body suits to assist game developers in creating character movements.
The union is also seeking parity in rest periods, aiming to grant on-camera performers the same five-minute rest period per hour that off-camera performers receive, as stated in a press release on its website.
The upcoming negotiations will involve discussions with major video game companies, including Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Formosa Interactive, and others. Audrey Cooling, speaking on behalf of the video game companies, expressed optimism about reaching a resolution at the bargaining table and affirmed their commitment to negotiating in good faith, highlighting the significant contributions of SAG-AFTRA-represented performers in the video game sector.
