SAG-AFTRA Video Game Voice Actor Strike Near Record Length

The Screen Actors Guild & American Federation of Television and Radio Artists strike against nine video game companies over residual and pay disputes has reached day 96 and is now the second-longest strike in SAG-AFTRA history, according to a report from Deadline.

The strike, which began last October, has focused on voice actors for video games. Specific demands for union members have included residuals for actors on games that sell more than two million copies and work time limits for vocally stressful performances.

In a statement from October via VentureBeat, SAG-AFTRA said its push to strike was intended to help out its members who work with developers frequently.

“No matter what these companies are peddling in their press releases, this negotiation is not only about upfront compensation. It is about fairness and the ability of middle-class performers to survive in this industry. These companies are immensely profitable, and successful games — which are the only games this dispute is about — drive that profit.” SAG-AFTRA’s statement said.

SAG-AFTRA members have been told to refuse work from nine video game developers, which are Activision Publishing, Blindlight, Disney Character Voices, Electronic Arts, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, Take-Two Interactive, VoiceWorks Productions and WB Games.

While no-strike clauses have insured games currently under development will be finished, the extended strike shows few signs of ending and public action has been scant on both sides. Canadian and British actors unions have expressed support for the strike and, so far, developers have refused to back down on SAG-AFTRA calls for residuals. For SAG-AFTRA, the union will organize a Feb. 2 march in Los Angeles.