Game Publishers Launch Attack Website On Voice Actors Union
A group of publishers, which includes the likes of Activision, EA, Disney Interactive, Take-Two, and Warner Bros. have launched a website attacking the union that represents voice actors. The site calls out SAG-AFTRA for misrepresenting the companies to its members, citing a lack of communication of the fact that publishers were willing to negotiate with voice actors and that they effectively forced a strike.
SAG-AFTRA had made a number of demands. Chief among them was higher compensation for actors and a system to provide a safe working environment for all workers. In particular, the union was worried about the health of vocal cords during long sessions and the hazards involved in motion capture work that was often carried out without any stunt coordinators present.
The negotiations has been going on for two years but the strike seems to have prompted the publisher group to make it side of the story public. They claim that they have worked to meet the demands and provide a safer working environment, with only semantics and a few smaller points not being agreed thus far.
SAG-AFTRA has yet to comment on the launch of the website.