Huge Updates on the WGA and SAG-AFTRA Joint Strike
Big things are happening for American screenwriters and actors
For the WGA, their months long strike is finally over
The writers union has negotiated a phenomenal new contract which, as insisted on by the WGA (Writers’ Guild of America), leaves no type of screenwriter behind (as previous offers by the AMPTP would have). Among their many wins, they have secured benefits like better health and pension deals for writing teams.
A difficult journey, a merciless opponent
Let us not overlook the fact that this victory for workers’ and creatives’ rights did not come easily. In addition to going without income by refusing to work, these people were faced with unimaginable pressures to surrender and dangerous obstructions they believe to have been intentional.
Per BBC, trees were cut outside of NBCUniversal when union members were picketing there. The strikers have stated they suspect this was an attempt to drive them away by removing protective shade from the oppressive and potentially deadly heat of the summer sun. On top of that, NBCUniversal also allegedly pushed union members into the streets by tearing up and blocking off the sidewalks in front of their buildings (per actor Bex Taylor-Klaus, who expressed the opinion that this conveniently timed construction work was a strike-busting tactic.) Thankfully, the Department of Transportation provided two lanes for the union members to picket in safely (also per Taylor-Klaus.)
While the accusations against NBCUniversal admittedly lack definitive proof as of yet, at least one example of undeniable malintent towards the union members was revealed in a Deadline article, as follows:
“The endgame is to allow things to drag on until union members start losing their apartments and losing their houses,” a studio executive told Deadline. Acknowledging the cold-as-ice approach, several other sources reiterated the statement. One insider called it “a cruel but necessary evil.”
As was pointed out in my first article about this event, these unions do not want to strike. They have to. They cannot continue living and working with the way things are now, where some writers cannot even qualify for health insurance because studios have turned their profession into a part-time position (per writer Michael Jamin.)
As was also pointed out by Jamin, another source of opposition to the unions is the fact that the media companies own the media, which many used to tell their own side of the story alone. If not for news sources that are less antagonistic towards workers rights and the use of social media to spread awareness and shed light on the strikers’ point of view, public opinion might have been swayed against the unions and put additional pressure on them to give up.
Despite many incredible social, economical, and environmental challenges, the Writer’s Guild of America has at last won a monumental battle against the forces of callous corporate greed. You can hear more details about how work conditions for writers have been improved straight from a union member, comedy writer Adam Conover, on his Instagram. (Warning for those who are not fond of profanity: be prepared for the dropping of an ecstatic F-bomb.)
What about SAG-AFTRA?
Actors are still on strike, but per CNN the studios are scheduled to resume talks with them on Monday, October 2. Hopefully they will secure similarly excellent benefits and protections for on-screen performers.
Please consider donating to the Entertainment Community Fund to help support actors and other entertainment workers until the confirmed end of this historic event. Thank you for reading, and thank you to the Writers Guild of America for standing up for themselves and future creatives.
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