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.

Inside the UK Budget 2025: Tax Rises, the Fingleton Review and What It Means for Business

What does the UK Budget 2025 really mean for businesses negotiating with government?

In this episode of Negotiating Government, former Treasury official John Hall and former Chief Secretary to the Treasury David Gauke analyse the November 2025 UK Budget from an insider’s perspective — focusing on what matters most for the private sector.

They examine:

• Why the Budget prioritised fiscal repair over economic growth
• What the Fingleton Review reveals about regulatory reform and infrastructure delivery
• Whether the government’s fiscal headroom strategy is sustainable
• The pressure points facing sectors such as NHS pharmaceuticals and energy
• Whether “temporary” taxes like the Energy Profits Levy ever truly remain temporary
• The strategic importance of the new Local Growth Fund and mayoral investment powers

Despite significant tax measures, the Budget left many business leaders questioning the UK’s growth strategy. This episode explores how fiscal policy, regulatory reform and political constraints shape the environment for companies engaging with government.

If you operate in a regulated sector or face sector-specific tax risk, this episode explains how to interpret Budget signals — and how to respond strategically.

How the UK Budget Process Works: Inside HM Treasury and the Role of the OBR

How does HM Treasury build a Budget — and who really shapes the final decisions?

In this episode of Negotiating Government, former Chief Secretary to the Treasury David Gauke and former senior Treasury official John Hall explain how the UK Budget process actually works, from early internal negotiations to last-minute fiscal decisions.

They explore:

• How HM Treasury works with the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR)
• The strategic choices facing the Chancellor ahead of a Budget
• How fiscal rules and “headroom” influence tax and spending decisions
• Why some measures appear late in the process
• When and how businesses can influence Treasury thinking

Drawing on first-hand experience inside government, this episode reveals the months-long negotiation process that sits behind every UK Budget — and what it means for sectors likely to be affected by tax or spending changes.

If you want to understand how to negotiate with the Treasury, anticipate fiscal shifts, or engage government effectively during a Budget cycle, this episode provides an insider’s guide to how decisions are really made.