Actors poised to join writers in strike

The negotiating committee for the union representing movie and television actors unanimously recommended a strike following a breakdown in contract negotiations with studios, making it likely that performers will start picketing alongside writers Thursday.

The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists said its national board is voting Thursday about whether to strike after the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers "remains unwilling to offer a fair deal" following more than a month of bargaining. The alliance represents major studios and streamers such as Amazon, Disney, Netflix, Paramount and Sony.

"The companies have refused to meaningfully engage on some topics and on others completely stonewalled us. Until they do negotiate in good faith, we cannot begin to reach a deal," Fran Drescher, the actors' guild president and star of "The Nanny," said.

"This is the Union’s choice, not ours," the alliance representing the studios said, according to The Associated Press. "In doing so, it has dismissed our offer of historic pay and residual increases, substantially higher caps on pension and health contributions, audition protections, shortened series option periods, a groundbreaking AI proposal that protects actors’ digital likenesses, and more."

Hundreds of movie stars, including Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lawrence, have already signed a letter stating that they are prepared to strike in order to reach a deal, Rolling Stone reported. If the actors decide to strike, it will be the first time in more than six decades that both actors and writers are picketing the producers.

The breakdown in negotiations comes after both studios and actors agreed Tuesday to use a federal mediator to try and come to an agreement before the actors' contracts expired Wednesday.

The Writers Guild of America has been on strike since the beginning of May, with the union saying that members are being unfairly compensated in the streaming era.

Disney CEO Bob Iger told CNBC on Thursday that an actors' strike would have a "very damaging effect on the whole industry" and that both unions have expectations that are "just not realistic."

Madeleine Hubbard is an international correspondent for Just the News. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.