Hollywood unions battle Trump, AI and industry slowdown

Entertainment industry labor dynamics are evolving rapidly in 2024, as various groups of workers beyond actors and writers seek improved working conditions, better compensation, and protections against emerging technologies.

Current landscape: Following the landmark 2023 writers’ and actors’ strikes, a new wave of entertainment industry professionals are organizing for better working conditions and protections.

• Video game performers represented by SAG-AFTRA are leading current labor actions, focusing particularly on AI safeguards and fair compensation
• Visual effects artists and animation workers are pursuing unionization efforts across multiple studios and production companies
• Intimacy coordinators have unanimously voted to unionize under SAG-AFTRA, marking a significant development for on-set safety protocols

Key concerns driving action: Several critical factors are motivating workers across the entertainment industry to seek improved contracts and workplace protections.

• Escalating living costs in Southern California are making it increasingly difficult for industry professionals to maintain their standard of living
• The growing use of artificial intelligence technologies poses potential threats to job security and creative control
• Continued outsourcing of production work to other states and countries is creating job instability
• Working conditions and compensation structures have not kept pace with industry changes and economic pressures

Industry response and challenges: Media companies face complex decisions as they navigate these labor demands while managing their own financial pressures.

• Production companies are under intense pressure to reduce costs while maintaining content output
• Some executives argue that new labor contracts are accelerating the movement of production work outside the United States
• Union leaders contest this characterization, pointing to long-standing industry practices of seeking lower-cost production locations

Market dynamics: The broader economic environment is significantly impacting negotiations and worker leverage.

• California’s challenging job market is complicating workers’ bargaining positions
• International competition continues to reshape industry economics and production decisions
• The potential impact of the upcoming presidential election adds another layer of uncertainty to labor negotiations

Looking ahead: The entertainment industry appears to be entering a new phase of labor relations where AI protections and sustainable compensation models will be central to future agreements, while the outcome of these current organizing efforts could set important precedents for other creative industries facing similar challenges.