The Screen Actors Guild rejected a contract proposal that would have given performers who provide the voices of video game characters a 36 percent raise over three years, according to a published report.
The terms of the deal, which failed to secure residual payments for actors in top-selling games, was approved by SAG's sister union, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday. AFTRA's deal takes effect July 1.
"It is unfortunate that our brothers and sisters at the Screen Actors Guild have chosen another path," AFTRA President John P. Connolly told the newspaper.
Some SAG members argued the union should hold out until makers of video games agreed to share their profits and also acknowledged the contribution of stars, who are increasingly tapped for games. One of the key demands from actors had been to receive extra money when a game sells more than 400,000 units, but representatives of the $25 billion game industry refused to budge.
Actors currently are paid a minimum of $556 per four-hour session. The 3 1/2 -year agreement that was scrapped by SAG on Tuesday would have increased the rate to $759 by 2008, with an immediate 25 percent increase to $695.
SAG is the largest U.S. labor union representing working actors. AFTRA's members include actors, broadcast journalists, announcers and other performers.
