If SAG "cut a deal," that sounds something like "gave them a break." Is that what you meant? Because why would you put your membership through 118 days of prolonged unpaid leave, having lost cars and homes to "cut a deal" at the end of it with your adversary? Feeling generous? Somehow, I don't think so. Was watching a news magazine, the guest was asked by the host, "the terms have not been released so what does this settlement mean," to which the guest declaring victory, used glowing terms like, "It's Historic! Billion dollars! Everyone wins! and that actors are protected from AI using their images, likeness." It left me wondering that he had no knowledge of anything that hadn't been speculated, that the deal that was "cut" was with minor modification probably the same offer that had been on the table except for the AI protection, which to that latter point, how many of the rank and file members had legitimate worries about their image or likeness being used by AI? I would say very few. Nice of all those unemployed celebratory strikers, "let's stick it to the man!" to stick up for the rich few elite actors who could have legitimate intellectual property concerns.
I don't think SAG rank and file was served by their union leadership. There was a lot of harm to ordinary working class. In contrast, the much more historically antagonistic United Auto Workers saw their strike come after and end sooner, owing to a more saavy and experienced leadership group behind the negotiations that knew more about how to negotiate benefits for its striking members at the least amount of pain.
