The International Federation of Actors has issued a resolution declaring its support for SAG-AFTRA’s video game strike. The Executive Committee of the union federation, which goes by FIA, its French acronym, and represents performers unions from some 60 countries, voted unanimously in favor of the decisive statement during its meeting in New Zealand.
The resolution, which was proposed jointly by Actors’ Equity Association, Canada’s ACTRA, and Equity UK, along with performers unions from Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa and Uruguay, reads, in part, “FIA and its affiliates express unwavering support for SAG-AFTRA and its members in their stand against corporate exploitation, the unchecked use of A.I., and their broader fight for fair wages, reasonable working conditions, as well as the protection of performers’ rights and creative contributions to the video game industry.
“FIA and its member unions worldwide will continue to show solidarity with SAG-AFTRA, offering all legally permissible support for as long as necessary to ensure that the integrity and rights of performers are upheld, and to deter any attempts by video game companies to circumvent the terms of the strike by seeking to engage talent outside union agreements.”
FIA held its Executive Committee meeting in Auckland from Oct. 1–4. At the meeting, members discussed a variety of issues impacting entertainment professionals around the globe, including artificial intelligence, which is the central issue in the video game strike and one of the main factors leading to last year’s TV/Theatrical/Streaming strike. FIA’s president, Gabrielle Carteris, is the former president of SAG-AFTRA, and the first American to hold the seat.
SAG-AFTRA went on strike against some of the largest game companies in July, after more than 18 months of negotiation during which employers refused to agree to A.I. terms that would protect all SAG-AFTRA members who work on video games. Meanwhile, more than 100 video games have been signed to the union’s Interim Agreement and Tiered Budget Independent Agreement, which contain the protections SAG-AFTRA was seeking, showing that the union’s terms are reasonable and feasible for business.
SAG-AFTRA and the convenience bargaining group with whom the union negotiates its Interactive Media Agreement will resume negotiations on Wednesday, October 23. The convenience bargaining group includes Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., Llama Productions LLC, Take 2 Productions Inc., and WB Games Inc.
