The US actors' union Sag-Aftra has formally ratified its contract with Hollywood studios, ending the strike that began on 14 July. The ratification, which saw 78% of members vote in favour with a 38% turnout, comes a month after a tentative deal was agreed.
The three-year contract includes $1bn (£790m) in new compensation and benefits, as well as protections against the use of artificial intelligence by studios. Union president Fran Drescher described it as 'a golden age for Sag-Aftra', stating the union has never been more powerful.
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, representing studios such as Netflix and Walt Disney, welcomed the deal, saying the industry and its jobs can now 'return in full force'. The 118-day strike was the longest in the union's 90-year history and, combined with the writers' strike, is estimated to have cost California's economy over $6.5bn.
Chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland acknowledged the deal was not 'perfect' but contained 'a lot of really important gains'. High-profile actors including Zac Efron, Jamie Lee Curtis and Octavia Spencer had previously voiced support for the agreement.
