Movie actors on strike; TV-radio union may join

July 22, 1980

The Screen Actors Guild went on strike Monday and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists was expected to follow suit, bringing production of feature and television films and prime-time TV shows to a halt. Commercials and industrial and educational films were not affected. The two entertainment unions, representing a total of about 70,000 performers, said technological changes affecting the industry were the key issue in negotiations for the three-year contract. The actors were demanding an immediate 40 percent increase in wages and benefits and a pay schedule for work done for pay television.