SAG negotiator addresses production crew at solidarity webinar

SAG-AFTRA's national executive director and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said he recognises that AMPTP members are "global businesses that have global presences around the world," and "members are hurting" internationally.

Speaking on a webinar alongside Equity boss Paul Fleming and broadcasting union Bectu chiefs, Crabtree-Ireland put the blame on the AMPTP, saying: "The only reason these strikes are happening is these companies refuse to make fair and respectful deals with our members.

The USA/UK unions were addressing hundreds of UK members and industry press as the SAG-AFTRA strike enters its fifth week.

UK based crew members have been deeply affected by the SAG strike, and the UK's strict labor laws do not permit them to join the strike action. Still, many have lost work simply due to the shutdown of productions including Apple TV+'s Silo, Disney+'s Andor and Rami Malek-starring movie Amateur.

Some productions, either that have been given waivers or are not affiliated with SAG actors, continue. However, production schedules have faced a lot of chaos due to the strikes. Addressing this issue, Fleming said: "we are doing everything we can to ensure that does not impact health and safety at work where there are pressures to meet unreasonable deadlines."

Despite the upheaval, Fleming reinstated Equity's solidarity to the SAG strike's causes.

"Of course my members are upset. But you don’t get hacked off about 39 days of striking, you get hacked off about every day of your life being screwed over by the same producers who are screwing over our colleagues in the US. The strike is a product of the AMPTP's unreasonabeless and the harder it gets will be response to their intransigence," he said.

Crabtree-Ireland added: "I want to acknowledge that the writers' strike and our strike have had significant economic consequences on people. And I know, that includes crew members and people who aren’t themselves specifically part of these units that are on strike, but whose work opportunities have been affected, whose livelihoods have been affected.

“And I just want to make sure you all know that we see that our members are hurting, and we know your members and others are hurting in this industry as well."