Hollywood’s Biggest Stars Unite to Support SAG-AFTRA in Fight for Fair Wages and Improved Working Conditions

Hollywood stars Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy, Florence Pugh, and Fran Drescher joined forces on Thursday to support the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) in their fight for fair wages. The union representing some 160,000 Hollywood performers voted to strike in response to failed negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).

The stars of the movie “Oppenheimer” left the film’s London premiere early in order to show their support for the union. The SAG-AFTRA’s national board agreed to the union negotiating committee’s unanimous recommendation to strike on Thursday. The strike is expected to begin at midnight and involve union members, leadership and staff.

SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher lit into studio executives on Thursday, citing the failure to reach an agreement despite the union extending negotiations two weeks past their contract expiration on June 30. The strike is the first major strike by the union in more than 40 years.

SAG-AFTRA is calling for increased wages, better residuals, and improved safety protocols for performers. The union is also asking for better protections for stunt performers, background actors, and other performers who are often taken advantage of by studios.

The strike is expected to have a major impact on the entertainment industry, as many productions are likely to be delayed or halted due to the lack of union actors. It remains to be seen if the strike will be successful in achieving its goals, but for now, Hollywood’s biggest stars are standing together in support of the union.