Board members vote to officially end voice actors' strike

National Board members at screen actors guild SAG-AFTRA have called an official end to the union's year-long strike. The board unanimously signed off on the "tentative agreement" that was initially hashed out back in September. 

The new deal features a bonus structure that provides additional payments to voice performers based on number of sessions worked. Those payments, which are due no later than a game's release date, begin with an additional $75 payment for one session, eventually totaling $2100 after 10 sessions. 

It also contains transparency provisions that should enhance the bargaining power of SAG-AFTRA members by requiring companies to reveal the code name of its project, its genre, whether the game is based on a previously published property, and whether the performer is reprising a role. 

Studios had previously been able to sign voice actors without disclosing key information, limiting a performer's ability to haggle for a fairer deal. 

Going forward, members must be told whether they'll be required to use unusual terminology, profanity, or racial slurs, and will be warned about any content of a sexual or violent nature. The deal also includes an employer commitment to continue working with SAG-AFTRA to better tackle the issue of vocal stress in the workplace. 

"This agreement is the first step towards streamlining the work our members do in the video game industry," commented SAG-AFTRA president, Gabrielle Carteris.

"The deal includes significant improvements in the area of transparency and the payment structure ensures that our members are compensated fairly for their work. I am excited for what this means for our members moving forward."

The new deal will come into effect on November 8, 2017, and will expire in three years' time on November 7, 2020.