International Federation of Actors Declares Its Support for SAG-AFTRA Video Game Strike

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.

“Worker solidarity is the key to any successful labor action, and this resolution shows that our union siblings and friends around the globe have our backs,” said SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland. “They understand that, in a world of multinational conglomerates that undervalue their workers, the issues affecting our members aren’t limited to our region, country, hemisphere or, for that matter, our industry. The technology may be new, but the desire of corporations to exploit workers for their own ends is timeless — and the unity of working people is the only way to effectively push back.”

“The fight for worker empowerment must be as globalized as the multinational corporations who profit from our labor, that’s why FIA’s support of SAG-AFTRA will remain a symbol for the solidarity that must exist among all of us,” said FIA President Gabrielle Carteris. “Our unity signifies global solidarity for a fair and dignified workplace for performing artists around the world.”

“Workers’ struggles know no borders, and all the members of our federation understand that. The workplace is now global, and our solidarity must be as well. We are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with our union siblings at SAG-AFTRA and hope for a speedy — but more importantly, fair — resolution to their strike,” added FIA General Secretary Dominick Luquer.

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.

FIA Video Game Resolution (English)

https://www.sagaftra.org/sites/default/files/2024-10/FIA%20Video%20Game%20Resolution%202024%20%28English%29.pdf

About SAG-AFTRA

(Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) SAG-AFTRA represents approximately 160,000 actors, recording artists, singers, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other entertainment and media professionals. SAG-AFTRA members are the faces and voices that entertain and inform America and the world. A proud affiliate of the AFL-CIO, SAG-AFTRA has national offices in Los Angeles and New York and local offices nationwide representing members working together to secure the strongest protections for entertainment and media artists into the 21st century and beyond. Visit sagaftra.org and follow @sagaftranews for breaking news from SAG-AFTRA. Visit the SAG-AFTRA Video Game Strike Site.

About International Federation of Actors (FIA)

The International Federation of Actors (FIA) is a global federation of performers’ trade unions, guilds and professional associations from about 60 countries around the world. In a connected world of content and entertainment, it is committed to enhancing the social, economic and moral rights entitlements of several hundred thousand audiovisual performers working in live theater and recorded media. Visit fia-actors.com for more information