The Screen Actors Guild‑American Federation of Television and Radio Artists SAG‑AFTRA and major Hollywood studios announced a roughly one‑billion‑dollar interim agreement this week, effectively ending a strike that had stretched for nearly four months.
Officials stated that the TV and Theater Negotiating Committee unanimously approved the provisional deal. The union confirmed that the strike has been suspended and all picket lines have been withdrawn. In a formal update, SAG‑AFTRA indicated it would share information about nationwide celebration gatherings in the days ahead. The agreement marks a pivotal moment in the longstanding labor dispute between actors and studios, with confirmation from SAG‑AFTRA that a celebratory phase would follow pending final steps.
The contract is described as exceeding one billion dollars and includes provisions to increase the minimum wage beyond industry averages. It introduces unprecedented safeguards on consent and compensation designed to shield actors from the potential threats posed by artificial intelligence. SAG‑AFTRA leadership emphasized that the deal aims to secure sustainable, long‑term earnings for performers, covering a broad range of categories.
Additionally, for the first time, performers will receive bonuses tied to live broadcast services, improvements to pension and health insurance thresholds, and other compensation enhancements. Industry observers note that these terms could set new patterns for how performing artists are compensated in an evolving media landscape.
Representatives for SAG‑AFTRA said the agreement is structured to enable members across all categories to build sustainable careers in a rapidly changing industry. They stressed that thousands of artists would benefit from the negotiated gains now and into the future, reinforcing a sense of momentum for actors and their unions.
Details of the contract are subject to review by the SAG‑AFTRA National Board and must be approved by union members before becoming final. Until that process is complete, the interim agreement serves as a bridge toward a comprehensive, long‑term contract.
Last month, the Writers Guild of America WGA reached a separate deal with Hollywood after a work stoppage that halted production across many film and television projects for several months. The WGA began striking on May 2, and the stoppage reached its 145th day on a recent Saturday, nearing the longest strike in the union’s history, which lasted 154 days in 1988. In a show of solidarity, SAG‑AFTRA initiated a strike on July 14, aligning with the writers as talks continued.