After 118-Day Strike, SAG-AFTRA and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers Reach Historic Tentative Deal Worth Over a Billion Dollars

After a lengthy 118-day strike, SAG-AFTRA, the union that represents more than 150,000 film and television performers, and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers have reached a tentative deal. Union head Fran Drescher called the contract “historic” while appearing on “Extra” on Thursday, where she told host Billy Bush the entire package was worth well over a billion dollars.

The deal includes more protections around self-taped auditions, and pension caps would be raised for the first time in over four decades. Background actors will receive an 11% bump in pay, the largest overall increase, and the highest minimum wage increase in 40 years.

The tentative deal also includes increases in streaming residuals and protections around the use of artificial intelligence. SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris said in a statement that the union was “proud to have achieved a historic contract that will put more money in the pockets of our members and create more opportunity for them.”

The agreement is a major victory for the union and its members, who have been fighting for better wages and working conditions for years. Stars are celebrating the end of the strike, and the union is hopeful that the new contract will provide more stability and security for its members.