By Robert Fulton | contributing writer

‘Game Over,’ Say SAG-AFTRA Video Game Actors

On Friday, July 26, in Los Angeles, actors who work in the video game industry and are organized under the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) went on strike. The action affects signatory companies to the union’s Interactive Media Agreement. (“Interactive media” is a fancy term for video games.) The strike was authorized with more than 98% of the vote.

The central sticking point between the striking actors and management is — you guessed it — the use of artificial intelligence. Video game actors fear the growing use of AI in replicating their voices or rendering their likenesses digitally without their knowledge or consent and without their being compensated.

The back-and-forth between SAG-AFTRA and video game developers has been in play for nearly two years. Negotiations between the union and the studios began in October 2022, and less than a year later, in September 2023, SAG-AFTA held a strike vote.

The parties have agreed on portions of a new contract but remain at odds over AI.

A statement from SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher reads: “We’re not going to consent to a contract that allows companies to abuse AI to the detriment of our members. Enough is enough. When these companies get serious about offering an agreement our members can live — and work — with, we will be here, ready to negotiate.”

A coalition of unions including Teamsters, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, and others active in the entertainment industry issued a statement of support.

“These workers have made the difficult choice to strike as they fight for basic AI protections, and we stand with them in solidarity,” according to that joint statement. “Our unions understand the need to fight back against the threat of AI. We call on these video game companies to acknowledge the contributions of these performers and to work toward a future where their work is valued and their labor cannot be replaced by technology.”

United Flight Attendants Prepare for Takeoff After Strike Vote

United Airlines might be in for some rough air ahead thanks to their poor treatment of their airborne workforce.

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA’s United Master Executive Council issued a strike vote last month. As of Thursday, August 15, 62% of eligible members had cast their vote, with two more weeks remaining.

To cap off the voting period, the flight attendants held a day of action on Wednesday, August 28, at airports across the country — including SFO.

Back pay and ground pay are two of the most significant issues. The theme of the August 28 action was “Pay Us or Chaos.”

Organized Labor will keep an eye on this and report back with more.

Trump, Musk Drive UAW’s NLRB Complaint

The United Auto Workers recently filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board against Donald Trump and Elon Musk after the two publicly celebrated firing striking workers.

On Monday, August 12, Trump and Musk engaged in a public conversation on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) during which Trump praised Musk for the latter’s draconian responses to employees who consider unionizing — that would include Fremont’s Tesla factory workers — and Musk’s anti-union practices in general.

The UAW asserts that the conversation interferes with workers who might exercise their right to unionize and is therefore actionable.

“Both Trump and Musk want working-class people to sit down and shut up, and they laugh about it openly,” said UAW President Shawn Fain in a statement.

Extra, Extra: Pittsburgh Paper in Hot Water

The NLRB has filed an injunction against the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for violating workers’ rights.

According to reports, should the injunction hold, Post-Gazette management would be forced to pay the workers’ healthcare costs, return to their previously violated union contract, and resume bargaining with the union.

Members of the production union and the Newspaper Guild have been on strike since October 2022.