A potential strike against video game employers continues to march closer to reality after SAG-AFTRA’s board of directors voted unanimously to set a strike date that would begin tomorrow at 12:01a. The union noted that key issues dividing the two parties included: secondary compensation, stunt safety, transparency, vocal safety, a failure to bargain seriously and an out-of-date contract. Companies being targeted include: Activision Publishing, Blindlight, Corps of Discovery Films, Disney Character Voices, Electronic Arts Productions, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, Interactive Associations, Take 2 Interactive Software, VoiceWorks Productions and WB Games.

Meanwhile, publishers were quick to defend business practices, with Scott J. Witlin of the law firm of Barnes & Thornburg LLP – which represents a coalition of Interactive Video Game Publishing Companies – stating that they had been negotiating in good faith and noting that “We consider the Union’s threatened labor action to call a strike precipitous, unnecessary and an action that will only harm their membership. SAG-AFTRA represents performers in less than 25% of the video games on the market. Any strike would not only deny SAG-AFTRA’s membership work, but this would also give their competitors, who do not engage union talent, a leg up while any strike would be in place.”