SAG-AFTRA called a strike following a year and half negotiations ending without a deal. The union was bargaining over the new Tiered-Budget Independent Interactive Media Agreement, the Interim Interactive Media Agreement or the Interim Interactive Localization Agreement that would have offered agreements offer critical AI protections for members. Workers had previously voted 98.32% in favour of striking over the agreements.

As Fran Drescher, the SAG-AFTRA president explained, "We’re not going to consent to a contract that allows companies to abuse A.I. to the detriment of our members. Enough is enough. When these companies get serious about offering an agreement our members can live — and work — with, we will be here, ready to negotiate"