In a dual walkout that pits more than 170,000 workers against major studios like Disney and Paramount and tech juggernauts like Netflix and Amazon, the Hollywood actors’ union on Thursday approved a strike for the first time in 43 years.
The SAG-AFTRA, which represents 160,000 television and movie actors, joined with the already-striking screenwriters to bring the $134 billion American movie and television business to a virtual halt.
Like the screenwriters, the actors are demanding higher pay and royalties, as well as protection from a tech-dominated future and AI.
Actors and screenwriters had not been on strike at the same time since 1960, when Marilyn Monroe was still starring in films and Ronald Reagan was the head of the actors’ union.
