SAG-AFTRA, Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, voted to go on Strike Oct. 6. The group is seeking secondary payments for games that reach 2 million in sales and then again after equal increments. The union says that the Interactive Media Agreement Strike Authorization referendum passed with 96.52% saying yes.
Voice actors claimed that the working conditions in which they were subjected to were unacceptable and that publisher representatives are unwilling to work with them, claims Wil Wheaton, who recently voiced Abraham Lincoln in the recent Nintendo 3DS game, Code Name S.T.E.A.M. Wheaton also claims that publishers have declined every offer they proposed including reduced recording sessions.
Bargaining sessions were held in February and June to negotiate the Interactive Media Agreement, which expired on December 31, 2014. With the recent vote, both sides are due to meet once more for negotiations.
SAG-AFTRA is a combination of two unions, the Screen Actors Guild of America and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. The two unions merged in order to protect the rights of performers, journalists and recording artists.
What do you think? Do you think that an agreement will be reached between video game voice actors and game developers? Leave your comments in the section below.
