Soap Stars Join the SAG-AFTRA Picket Lines

By Michelle Parkerton Updated: July 19, 2023

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Most of the entertainment industry has been immobilized by the SAG-AFTRA strike after the performers’ union voted on July 14 that its members should walk out on film and television productions after failing to reach a deal with Hollywood’s biggest studios. Soap opera actors, however, are among the few performers that are not on strike, as daytime performers are employed under the union’s SAG-AFTRA National Code of Fair Practice for Television Broadcasting (aka Network Code). The Netcode contract, as it’s often called for short, covers soap operas, morning news shows, talk shows, variety shows, reality shows, game shows, and sports programs.

Yet while their contract prohibits soap actors from walking out on their jobs, many of them have been vocal on social media about their support for their fellow SAG-AFTRA performers, who are fighting for fairer wages, increased residual pay for content on streaming services, and protection against the use of Artificial Intelligence, among other issues.

As GENERAL HOSPITAL star Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis) explained on Twitter, only a small percentage of SAG-AFTRA actors are billionaires, while most are struggling to earn a decent salary. “There are 160,000 union actors. Actors you know by name are maybe 300. Million-dollar actors are maybe 200,” she shared. “It takes a big village of actors to make a film, and the village you see in film and TV don’t make a living wage. This strike is for them, not Tom Cruise.”

To illustrate the point of just how little actors earn in residuals — the financial compensation they receive whenever a television show or movie they’ve appeared in is replayed — Sarah Brown (ex-Carly and Claudia, GH; ex-Aggie, THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL; ex-Madison, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) shared a screenshot of her payout for her roles in episodes of CASTLE and CODE BLACK. “I shot “Cabin Pressure,” for ABC Studios & CBS Television Studios in May 2018. My pay was ‘top of show’ guest star. Still getting upwards of 0.7 cents in some markets,” she wrote. “We deserve fair contracts and we’re more than willing to fight for them. In solidarity with my fellow union members in SAG-AFTRA and our friends in the Writers Guild of America.” (The Writers Guild of America members have been on strike since May 2, making this the first time in more than 60 years that both the actors union and the writers union have been on strike simultaneously.)

Over the past week, many stars from GH, B&B, DAYS, and THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS have joined their SAG-AFTRA brothers and sisters on the picket line.

Scroll through the gallery below to see some of those who are showing their support as well as some daytime graduates who are on strike for fairer compensation.

Judah Mackey (Connor, Y&R)

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Mackey hit the picket line with two fellow young actors: his brother, Benjamin, and pal Jakari Fraser. “Proud SAG-AFTRA Member since 2018! As we stand together for fair and protective terms, I will not post or work on anything related to SAG-AFTRA projects covered under the strike. As an actor on a daytime series, I will continue work on Y&R as I am employed under SAG-AFTRA’S National Code of Fair Practice for Network Television Broadcasting, aka Network Code or Netcode. We didn’t want to strike but we’re not afraid to stand strong for a better future!”
Galen Gering (Rafe, DAYS)

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A quartet of DAYS leading men — Gering, Carson Boatman (Johnny), Peter Porte (Dimitri), and Greg Rikaart (Leo) — joined the picket line in Hollywood. “Out here in solidarity with my fellow actors and writers supporting what is right and fair,” Gering wrote.
Stephen Nichols (Steve, DAYS)

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“I’m a proud member of SAG-AFTRA since 1978. And while our daytime contract prevents me from striking, I stand with my fellow union members and support their efforts, as well as those of the WGA writers.

Please, if you don’t understand what’s behind this strike — inform yourself. While billions of dollars are being made off film, television, and streaming, the actors, writers, and other creatives who make that happen are not the beneficiaries. Add to that the attempts to further rob actors and writers of their fair share through the use of AI.

There are currently around 170,000 members of SAG-AFTRA, but roughly 10% qualify for health insurance. That means that nearly 90% of these actors make less than $26,000 per year. This strike is for them… and for the future of our industry!”
Rodney Van Johnson (Russell, B&B)

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Van Johnson spent back-to-back days joining picketers at both Walt Disney Studios and Warner Bros. Studios.
Sebastian Roche (ex-Jerry, GH)

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Roche — who went on to star in series like THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, THE ORIGINALS, THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE, and 1923 after exiting Port Charles — walked with his wife, actress Alicia Hannah-Kim (who played COBRA KAI antagonist Kim Da-Eun), on the picket line. “The couple who strike together stay together,” he wrote of their “strike date.”
Tamara Tunie (Jessica, ATWT)

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“I stand in solidarity with my Union. The world and industry have changed dramatically. We cannot continue to kick the can down the road in hopes that the next contract will address what needs to be taken care of now… and for the future. Thank you, Negotiating Team, for your hard work and dedication to fighting for fair wages for us all!”
Tamara Braun (ex-Ava, DAYS; ex-Carly, GH; ex-Reese, AMC)

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“Fighting the good fight,” declared Braun, who joined the performers picketing at Walt Disney Studios.
Christopher Sean (Paul, DAYS)

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At the Warner Bros. Studio, the DAYS star joined his fellow performers Lee Shorten and Josh Han in support of the strike “Day 1: Today we suit up and grab our signs and we march against oppression. We fight for our futures, and we won’t back down. These are some of the kindest, coolest and most successful people you can meet, and I’m honored to see you out there.”