Fran Drescherexcoriated Hollywood executives in a speech Thursdayannouncing the union’s intention to strike after failed contract negotiationswith the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
She appeared at the Los Angeles press conference with SAG-AFRTRA’s national executive director and chief negotiator, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland.
CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty
“I cannot believe it, quite frankly, how far apart we are on so many things,” continued Drescher. In negotiations with the AMPTP, SAG-AFTRA has been seeking pay and residual increases, higher caps on pension and health contributions, and regulating the use of artificial intelligence, among other things.
“They plead poverty that they’re losing money left and right while giving hundreds of millions of dollars to their CEOs. It is disgusting. Shame on them. They stand on the wrong side of history at this very moment. We stand in solidarity in unprecedented unity,” Drescher said.
The former star ofThe Nannypleaded the union’s case that the time had come for new terms under their contract.
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Fran Drescher and Duncan Crabtree-Ireland speak at a SAG-AFTRA press conference.CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty
Hollywood execs privately consider actors “the center of the wheel” Drescher alleged.
“But actions speak louder than words, and there was nothing there [in a contract offer]. It was insulting. So we came together in strength and solidarity and unity with the largest strike-authorization vote in our union’s history. And we made the hard decision that we tell you, as we stand before you today, this is major.”
Said Drescher, “The jig is up, AMPTP. We stand tall. You have to wake up and smell the coffee. We are labor, and we stand tall, and we demand respect and to be honored for our contribution. You share the wealth because you cannot exist without us.”
In a statement Thursday, the AMPTP said, according toABC News, “We are deeply disappointed that SAG-AFTRA has decided to walk away from negotiations. This is the Union’s choice, not ours. In doing so, it has dismissed our offer of historic pay and residual increases, substantially higher caps on pension and health contributions, audition protections, shortened series option periods, a groundbreaking AI proposal that protects actors’ digital likenesses, and more.”
WGA strikes on July 11.Mario Tama/Getty
Mario Tama/Getty
“Rather than continuing to negotiate, SAG-AFTRA has put us on a course that will deepen the financial hardship for thousands who depend on the industry for their livelihoods. There are 160,000 members of SAG-AFTRA and over 11,000 members of the Writers Guild of America.”
Drescher said in a Q&A with members of the press following the speech that she was open to talk with the AMPTP again as soon as that night.
This is SAG-AFTRA’s first strike in more than 40 years. They join the Writer’s Guild of America, whose members havebeen on strike since May.
source: people.com
