Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1535197
28 SAG-AFTR A | Spring 2025 | sagaftra.org News, Information and Benefits S AG-AFTRA and its members who work the Interactive Media Agreement aren't standing still. The union has rolled out two new agreements to keep members working, even as the video game strike continues. In addition, members continue to walk the picket lines, rally supporters on social media and connect with allies at industry events. The two new agreements unveiled in March, the Student Interactive Waiver Agreement and the Game Jam Waiver Agreement, join the tiered-budget and interim agreements as a way for developers at all stages of their careers to access professional union talent. Most importantly, these contracts contain the protections our members need — the very same protections we have been demanding from the major companies. Developers have shown they want to work with the union: More than 200 games have signed on to the interim and independent tiered-budget agreements, and more are signing all the time. It's not just a way to provide work opportunities for members, it's also a real-world demonstration that the terms the union is seeking are reasonable and viable. The video game strike began July 26, 2024, after the union and some of the largest game companies in the industry were unable to reach an agreement. Although both sides have reached consensus on most points, the most critical remaining issue is consent and compensation for the use of A.I. SAG-AFTRA is insisting that performers have consent over each use of their digital doubles to prevent companies from training their artificial intelligence on members' performances — without compensation — and then using that A.I. to replace them, possibly never needing to hire them again. And that's why this fight is so important and why compromise on this point is not an option. Also in March, the union held a members-only Zoom meeting that provided an update on negotiations and a Q&A session with National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland. The union posted an annotated chart at sagaftra.org showing our proposals versus what the employers are offering. It shows that some of the concessions employers have presented are worded to create substantial loopholes, rendering the terms essentially meaningless. Employers have rebuffed the union's counterproposals to ensure that the provisions are fair and enforceable. The meeting was preceded by a message to members from Crabtree-Ireland and Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee Chair Sarah Elmaleh, in which the pair noted that employers' own stubbornness was preventing them from hiring their usual performers, so to fill the Above, Debi Derryberry and other SAG-AFTRA members picket outside of Formosa Studios in Burbank on April 2. SAG-AFTRA at GDC See page 40 Video Games continues on page 38 SAG-AFTRA Is Not Playing Games Union Keeps Up Pressure on Video Game Companies