In a historic move, members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) overwhelmingly approved a strike authorization, setting the stage for a potential work stoppage that could halt film and television productions across the entertainment industry for the first time in more than a decade.

The vote, which was conducted over the past several weeks, saw more than 98 percent of SAG-AFTRA members in favor of granting union leadership the authority to call a strike if contract negotiations with producers break down.

According to a statement from SAG-AFTRA, the union’s negotiating team has been pushing for increased compensation and better working conditions for members, particularly those working in streaming TV. The union has argued that as streaming platforms have grown in popularity, their revenue has not been shared fairly with performers and crew members.

The statement also noted that negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents major Hollywood studios and television networks, have been ongoing since May, but little progress has been made.

“Despite our best efforts, the AMPTP has not been willing to make a fair deal for performers,” said SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris. “We deserve better. We have stood together in solidarity and strength to make this clear to the industry.”

The strike authorization does not necessarily mean that a work stoppage is imminent, but it gives the union added leverage in negotiations. The last time SAG-AFTRA members went on strike was in 2007-2008, which lasted for 100 days and caused widespread disruption in the entertainment industry.

Producers have not yet publicly commented on the strike authorization, but industry insiders are closely watching the negotiations and preparing for the potential consequences of a strike.

For now, negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP are set to resume in the coming weeks, but with the possibility of a strike looming, the entertainment industry may be facing a difficult and uncertain future.