April 24^th, 2005 (3:06pm) - The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) are asking their members to consider striking against producers of video games.

The two unions are hosting three informational events next week in New York (Tuesday), Los Angeles (Monday), and San Francisco (Tuesday) for voiceover actors who work in the interactive media (video game) industry.

"Members of the voice community will be given a full report on the progress of interactive negotiations," the unions explain in a website press announcement. "A strike authorization vote will be conducted among those present who work these contracts. This is a vote that authorizes the unions’ elected leaders to call a strike only if bargaining fails."

SAG and AFTRA are currently in the middle of extended talks with a group of video game producers on new agreements covering interactive media. The unions and the producers have extended their current pacts to May 13, the third extension of its type. AFTRA notes on its website that the union’s interactive media contract had already expired on Dec. 31, 2004. Other than the unions’ press release, a news blackout on the negotiations is still in effect.

A major issue about the extended talks appears to be payments for the use of not only of actors’ voices, but their likenesses and performances, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "The current deal, a first-of-its-kind contract reached with EA (Electronic Arts) and later joined by more than 50 companies, does not include residuals but does set minimum pay rates," the April 18 article states.

SAG first negotiated its Interactive Media Agreement in 1993. Since then, the video game industry has flourished, pulling in more capital than ever.