The SAG-AFTRA Strike Explained: AI, Streaming Residuals and Why Strikes Escalate

Why did the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike last so long — and why do rational negotiators sometimes accept mutually damaging outcomes?

In this episode of Negotiating Government, Miranda Worthington (former Director of Industrial Relations at the UK Department of Health & Social Care) and Josh Flax (former Deputy Director of the US Federal Mediation Service) analyse the SAG-AFTRA strike and what it reveals about modern labour negotiations.

They explore:

• The role of AI and digital likeness rights in actors’ contracts
• How streaming residuals changed the economics of film and television
• Why high-profile strikes escalate despite clear financial losses
• How cognitive biases such as the sunk cost fallacy and stop-loss bias distort decision-making
• The power of “moves away from the table” and shaping public opinion
• How celebrity visibility created leverage in a public negotiation

Using Hollywood as a case study, this episode explains the strategic dynamics behind major industrial disputes — and what negotiators in any sector can learn about leverage, escalation and reputational pressure.

If you want to understand why strikes happen, why they last, and how negotiation psychology shapes outcomes, this episode offers a practical and analytical perspective.

About the Podcast

Negotient is the expert adviser in managing negotiations between the public and private sectors; we advise clients in both sectors how to get the best results from their negotiations. This podcast explores the strategies and behind-the-scenes mechanics that shape successful negotiations, and the factors that drive the interests of both sides. Our aim is to help those involved in public sector negotiations understand the challenges they face — and how to overcome them to deliver better results for the public.