Matt McGorry Instagram – As actors, we often feel lucky just to be able to work at all doing what we love in an industry that is so competitive. Sometimes this makes us hesitant to “rock the boat” when we already feel our position is so precarious. But we deserve more! Solidarity is the only way to get there and when we come together we actually have a chance at getting what we deserve! Let’s gooo!!! 🔥 From SAG-AFTRA: “‘For the first time in a very long time, our member leadership stands in solidarity at the negotiating committee and the National Board levels on moving forward with a strike authorization. We must get all our ducks in a row should the need present itself, said SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher. “The prospect of a strike is not a first option, but a last resort. As my dad always says, ‘Better to have and not need than to need and not have.’… SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland explained, ‘Strike authorization sends an important message during the negotiations process. A ‘yes’ vote gives the National Board the power to call a strike if the AMPTP does not negotiate fairly in our upcoming bargaining. This will be a seminal negotiation that will determine the future of what it means to be a working performer. We must be ready to fight to secure a meaningful deal for our members.’ Earning a living as a professional performer has become increasingly difficult, with both inflation and the streaming ecosystem undercutting compensation — all the while, corporate profits and executive pay at studios continue to rise. Add to this the unregulated use of artificial intelligence and the burdens of the industrywide shift to self-tape, the outlook for working actors becomes unsustainable without transformative change. A successful strike authorization vote doesn’t initiate a strike. Instead, the strike authorization permits the National Board to declare a strike if the studios and streaming companies fail to negotiate fairly with SAG-AFTRA for the benefit of its members. Postcards will be sent to eligible members on Thursday, May 18 with instructions on how to vote, and voting will close at 5 p.m. PT on Monday, June 5.”