On the fiftieth day of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike, there is an air of determination among the picketing writers. Despite the hardships of the past weeks, writers remain committed to their fight for a fair contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).
WGA leadership has been critical of the AMPTP, claiming that the fifty-day mark has highlighted a “callousness” on their part. AMPTP has been accused of refusing to return to the negotiating table, using the excuse that they can only negotiate with one union at a time. The WGA has also accused the AMPTP of a “divide and conquer” strategy, attempting to strike a deal with one union in order to pressure others to follow suit. However, the WGA remains steadfast, vowing not to succumb to such tactics this time around.
The WGA has received notable support from other Hollywood unions, including IATSE and the Teamsters. These alliances have resulted in a number of productions being shut down across the country, affecting shows and movies like the Netflix comedy pilot “Little Sky” in New Mexico and “BMF” in Georgia.
The WGA has also seen solidarity from labor unions outside Hollywood. For instance, the United Teachers of Los Angeles, which went on strike for six days in 2019, made its presence known on the eve of Day 50 of the WGA strike, showing support at the Warner Bros lot alongside the cast and crew of Abbott Elementary and the Nurses Union.
However, the financial strain is beginning to show. As WGA members enter the eighth week of the strike, many are likely to begin experiencing economic hardship due to the work stoppage.
The industry now faces a possible second strike as the Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) union, representing 160,000 actors, is in negotiations with the AMPTP. A-list stars, including Jennifer Lawrence and Meryl Streep, have indicated their readiness to walk off the job if a “transformative deal” on higher base pay and safeguards around the use of artificial intelligence is not reached.
SAG-AFTRA has already voted to give its leaders the authority to call a work stoppage if talks break down before their contract expires with figures like filmmaker and actor Judd Apatow stating the need for actors to go on strike to address the issues affecting everyone in the industry.
The AMPTP, which negotiates on behalf of the studios, had no comment on the ongoing talks with SAG-AFTRA. The studios and the WGA have not held talks since the writers’ strike began on May 2, with the AMPTP claiming to have offered “generous” pay increases but unable to agree to all of the writers’ demands.
The WGA walkout is already having an impact on caterers, prop suppliers, and other small businesses that generate a large portion of their income from Hollywood productions. The last writers’ strike in 2007 and 2008 cost the California economy an estimated $2.1 billion.
As the industry braces for a possible second strike, it’s clear that the issues underpinning these labor disputes are deeply rooted and far-reaching. The next weeks will be critical in shaping the future of Hollywood labor relations.
[Please note that this article is a summary of the situation as it stands at the time of writing, June 30, 2023, and the situation may have changed by the time you read this.]
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