SAG-AFTRA announced it will resume contract negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on April 27. The actors union issued a statement confirming the date, with both sides agreeing to a media blackout during the early talks. This follows a pause after the Writers Guild of America reached a tentative deal early.
SAG-AFTRA confirmed on Monday that bargaining with the AMPTP will restart later this month. The union's statement noted the April 27 date, earlier than the previously expected June timeline. Negotiations will proceed under a media blackout, similar to the initial sessions that began in February and paused after about a month to allow the WGA to finalize its deal over the weekend. Current contracts for SAG-AFTRA, the WGA, and the DGA expire on June 30, with DGA talks set to begin May 11. The WGA's tentative agreement includes a one-year extension, potentially running four years if ratified, as part of the AMPTP's approach offering cash infusions to unions' health funds struggling in deficit. SAG-AFTRA chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland has insisted on strong AI protections to agree to any extension, leading to an impasse before the prior pause. New SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin emphasized addressing issues from the 2023 strikes. In a recent interview, Astin said, “Hopefully we’ll be able to just conduct the negotiation consistent with the needs of the industry.”
