The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has made the complete text of the tentative agreement public, more than two weeks after ending their nearly four-month long strike. The release of the 129-page 2023 TV/Theatrical Contracts Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) comes as eligible SAG-AFTRA members continue to vote on the ratification of the proposed three-year contract.

Guild president Fran Drescher had promised the publication of the MOA two days ago, and Guild National Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland confirmed the release in a note to members. The MOA link was shared with Guild members, who have the opportunity to review the draft agreement during the ongoing ratification voting period.

Traditionally, SAG-AFTRA contract ratification votes have relied on detailed summaries, as the drafting of the formal MOA usually takes several weeks. However, in response to member requests for a full review of the draft, SAG-AFTRA made this historic agreement available for scrutiny. Alongside the MOA, the Guild also included links to previous contracts for better context.

The ratification vote, which began on November 14, will continue until December 5. According to sources, online voting experienced a significant turnout during the initial days of the voting process.

On November 10, SAG-AFTRA leadership held a press conference to announce the settlement of the strike, which had brought Hollywood production to a standstill. The National Board voted 86% in favor of taking the agreement to members for ratification. The Guild has emphasized the extraordinary scope of the agreement, valuing it at over one billion dollars in new wages and benefit plan funding.

Criticism of the deal, particularly regarding the provisions related to artificial intelligence (AI), prompted SAG-AFTRA to release an 18-page summary on November 12. The Guild then launched informational sessions with Fran Drescher and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland on November 13.

Notably, Justine Bateman, an AI advisor to the negotiating committee, and Matthew Modine, a National Board member who voted against sending the agreement for ratification, have expressed strong opposition to the proposed deal. The release of the MOA today aims to address concerns raised by these individuals and provide members with a comprehensive understanding of the agreement.

The draft MOA, which contains detailed language outlining the changes in the 2023 TV/Theatrical Contracts tentative agreement, has been made available for informational purposes. However, it is important to note that the MOA is not considered final until it is signed by both parties involved.

To ensure the gains achieved in this agreement are secured, members are urged to vote by 5 p.m. PT on December 5, 2023. Voting can be done online through the voting website using the PIN provided to eligible SAG-AFTRA members via postcard.

For further information and resources related to the agreement, including informative videos and FAQs, members are encouraged to visit sagaftra.org/contracts2023.