UK could soon face actors strike, warns Equity chief, as SAG-AFTRA welcomes solidarity

Paul Fleming

UK actors may strike within the next 12 months, Equity chief Paul Fleming has warned, pointing to unrest within the British TV industry mirroring the situation in the US.

Fleming, who is general secretary of UK actors guild Equity, said that the organisation “may well be heading into our own industrial dispute over the next 12 months with [producers’ trade association] Pact.”

He highlighted Equity’s concerns over many of the same issues that have led to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA’s current action against the AMPTP in the US, including fair pay, residuals, and the use of artificial intelligence.

Equity has already put forward a proposal seeking a 15% increase in basic payment and is working on its position to address the other issues. The guild has previously shared its solidarity for SAG-AFTRA and the WGA.

“What we’re seeing is that the longer the dispute goes on, the deeper it will go and the more intractable it will go and the more the UK industry will go cold,” said Fleming. “That is necessary in order to ensure that we are in the strongest possible position to win, as big as SAG-AFTRA is going to win, with our own negotiations through the coming months.”

Fleming’s comments came during a webinar organised by the UK crew union Bectu, which was arranged to give UK crew members the opportunity to hear directly from SAG-AFTRA. As a result of the US strikes, Hollywood productions filming in the UK have been halted, resulting in crews being suspended – often at short notice – with a significant percentage of the UK’s production spend typically coming from US companies.

Significant consequences

Joining the webinar alongside Fleming and Bectu bosss Philippa Childs was SAG-AFTRA chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, who praised UK cast and crew for their support.

“I want to acknowledge that the [US strikes] have significant economic consequences to people, and I know that includes crew members and people who aren’t themselves specifically part of these units that are on strike but whose work opportunities and livelihoods have been affected,” said Crabtree-Ireland.

“I want to make sure you all know that we see that, we know that our members are hurting and your members and others are hurting in this industry as well.”

Discussing the current situation in the US, Crabtree-Ireland said: “When is this going to be over? I wish I could give you a definitive answer right now. That question needs to be answered by the CEOs of the studios and streamers who are deciding what’s happening.”