Why I'm Striking!
SAG-AFTRA Chicago Local- In Unity!
For over a decade, I’ve been a member of SAG-AFTRA and an actor on a hit TV show. My latest role is member of our National Board and Negotiating Committee for this contract.
Performers on hit shows should be able to pay their rent and qualify for health insurance. I’m one of the fortunate ones — I’m on a network TV show with a contract that pays residuals. However, my friends who work for streaming services cannot afford to pay their bills. They can barely afford their rent. And — along with 86 percent of our members — many do not qualify for health insurance. Even though it only takes $26,000 a year to do so.
These are actors on hit shows like Orange Is the New Black. Their work is bringing in millions yet they are left scraping to get by.
When streaming began, the studios said, “We don’t know what streaming is yet. We don’t know if it’ll be successful. Give us a break until we figure it out.” Guess what? They figured it out. Streaming is the new business model, and we’re not being compensated for it. But this is not the only way actors are losing money and being treated poorly.
People think of me as a Series Regular because I’ve been on the same show for eight years. But the truth is, I literally don’t know when or if I’ll be working from week to week. I’m expected to make myself available while the show is filming with no guarantee of work. And I’m still being billed as a co-star after nearly 100 episodes — a strategy used by the network to cut costs. Don’t get me wrong. I love my job and the people I work for. I’m very grateful for it. And I wish the system would change!
Another strategy to cut costs? Asking actors to submit self-tapes instead of paying casting directors to hold auditions. With self-tapes, actors are doing the job of the casting director, lighting department, sound operator, and set designer. This is all on top of the work we do to memorize our lines and evoke emotion in our performances. And it is never-ending.
Imagine going on the most vulnerable and ridiculous job interview possible — multiple times a week — for the rest of your life.
In the past, when I finally got the job and got paid well, it made it all worth it! Sure, I’ll go through an excruciating interview process if it might lead to a well-paying job. But now we don’t even have that. Studios are stiffing the workers who make their hit shows successful. They’re paying their CEOs and shareholders millions of dollars — then crying broke when it comes to compensating their creative labor.
We want to make money when the studios make money. They’re saying, “No.”
We want respect. They’re saying, “We’ll wait until actors and writers are homeless to make a deal.”
We want to protect our image and voice. They’re saying, “We’ll pay you once to scan your body and use your likeness forever without paying more…dead or alive.”
We want to keep up with inflation. They’re saying, “A five-percent increase is historic. Who cares if you make less than you did in 2020 with inflation?”
We're fighting for the survival of our profession. The “historic gains” on wage increases that were proposed won’t do us any good if our likeness is used in AI without our consent and compensation. Five percent of zero is still zero!
This is not just an actor problem or a writer problem. These are issues for workers everywhere. We all deserve fair pay, job protections, respect in the workplace, and wages that keep up with inflation. This is why unions are important. When we win, everyone wins. "A rising tide lifts all boats."
In unity,
Courtney Rioux
SAG-AFTRA Member, National, and Chicago Local Board Member
Please consider a donation to help entertainment professionals affected by the strike at The Entertainment Community Fund!
Also, can you show your support at our March/Rally in Chicago? Thursday, July 20th 12 pm -3 pm RSVP here!