SAG-AFTRA Board Approves New 4-Year AMPTP Deal

SAG-AFTRA’s national board has given its decisive stamp of approval to the union’s new tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers — and now it’s the members’ turn to weigh in.

The board voted Monday to approve the deal, which was first announced on May 2 after just one week of resumed talks, and formally recommended that the full membership vote “yes” on ratification. SAG-AFTRA did not disclose the exact vote tally, but used the word “decisively” to describe the outcome.

“Today, the SAG-AFTRA National Board reviewed the TV/Theatrical Contracts reached with the AMPTP,” said SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin in a statement. “The board approved the agreement in a decisive vote, and with a recommendation that members vote ‘yes’ on the contract.”

Astin — yes, that Sean Astin — didn’t hold back his enthusiasm. “In my view, this is a very strong deal that builds on the gains of 2023. It is a structural agreement that confronts the realities of streaming economics, artificial intelligence, digital identity, pension stability, data transparency, and the increasingly fragmented nature of employment in our business.”

What’s Actually in the Deal

One of the most significant structural changes in the new contract is the merger of the SAG-Producers Pension Plan and the AFTRA Retirement Fund into a single combined plan — with an additional 1% added to the studio contribution rate. That merger is targeted for completion by January 1, 2028. It’s a major consolidation that’s been a long time coming for a union that itself was formed from the merger of SAG and AFTRA back in 2012.

The deal also runs four years rather than the standard three, mirroring the structure of the Writers Guild of America’s recently ratified contract with the studios. That longer runway gives both sides more stability — and less frequent trips back to the bargaining table.

On AI, the agreement takes direct aim at what the union calls “synthetic performers” — performers generated entirely from generative AI that aren’t replicas of a real person. The contract establishes new and enhanced guardrails in this space, building on consent and compensation protections that were central to the 2023 negotiations. The full details are spelled out in the SAG-AFTRA summary of the tentative agreement.

National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland called it a testament to member unity. “This contract is a testament to the incredible unity and determination of our members, and I am proud to deliver an agreement that results in meaningful gains across the board, from benefit plans to artificial intelligence to residuals, and beyond.”

Deadline also reported that SAG-AFTRA received a “sizable” contribution to its pension fund from the AMPTP as part of the deal — a move that echoes what the WGA secured for its own healthcare plan during its negotiations last month.

How Negotiations Got Here

SAG-AFTRA was actually the first union out of the gate this cycle, beginning talks with the AMPTP back on February 9. After five weeks at the table, the two sides paused to allow the WGA to step in for its own round of bargaining. SAG-AFTRA and the studios returned on April 27 — and wrapped up a tentative deal in just about a week, with sources on both sides telling Deadline they hadn’t been far apart, even as a handful of issues, particularly around AI, needed final resolution.

Crabtree-Ireland credited the negotiating team by name: Ray Rodriguez, Lead Negotiator and Chief Contracts Officer; Jessica Johnson, National Director of Entertainment Contracts; and volunteer committee members including LA Local Vice Chair David Jolliffe, New York Local Vice Chair Linda Powell, and Committee of Locals Vice Chair Eric Goins.

What Happens Next — For SAG-AFTRA and Beyond

Informational meetings for SAG-AFTRA members are expected to be announced in the coming days. Postcards go out Thursday, May 14, to eligible members, and the ratification vote deadline is 5 p.m. PDT on June 4, 2026. Astin said he hopes for “full participation” from the membership.

Meanwhile, Hollywood’s labor season isn’t over. The Directors Guild of America — led by Christopher Nolan in his role as DGA president — sat down with the AMPTP on May 11 to begin its own contract talks. With both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA having reached deals, all eyes now turn to whether the DGA can follow suit without the drama.

“I look forward to seeing these gains locked in for our members,” Crabtree-Ireland said. The membership has until June 4 to make it official.