Wga Strike - Blog Posts
jesus fucking christ
Curious as to what new and exciting activities are you participating in during the wga and sag-aftra strike of 2023
After 146 days, the Writer's Strike has ended with a resounding success. Throughout constant attempts by the studios to threaten, gaslight, and otherwise divide the WGA, union members stood strong and kept fast in their demands. The result is a historic win guaranteeing not only pay increases and residual guarantees, but some of the first serious restrictions on the use of AI in a major industry.
This win is going to have a ripple effect not only throughout Hollywood but in all industries threatened by AI and wage reduction. Studio executives tried to insist that job replacement through AI is inevitable and wage increases for staff members is not financially viable. By refusing to give in for almost five long months, the writer's showed all of the US and frankly the world that that isn't true.
Organizing works. Unions work. Collective bargaining how we bring about a better future for ourselves and the next generation, and the WGA proved that today. Congratulations, Writer's Guild of America. #WGAstrong!!!
Possibly the greatest NPR exchange ever recorded
Can they also specify when it's gonna happen so I can celebrate it to the max?
the way these strikes get framed is always so funny to me
"the strike could stretch on until the end of summer" or the execs could pay their workers
"there won't be ANY new shows because of this strike" or the execs could pay their workers
"no more content for us because the mean old writers and actors are-" OR THE EXECS COULD PAY THEIR WORKERS
Imagine actually being so evil that you'd rather make sure your writers suffer financially instead of just paying them the pay they deserve. Hell truly has some seats reserved already, holy shit.
Sam Reich continually making Dropout the only streaming service ever
Quick reminders of ways that audience members can help support the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes:
Stay informed. Good sources are the WGA Strike Hub or SAG-AFTRA official website, as well as any of the official social media accounts for the unions.
Be wary of articles from the "trades" (Deadline, Variety, Hollywood Reporter, etc) - interviews with union membership/leaders can be informative, but the trades very often have a pro-AMPTP bias.
Be wary of anything that's demonizing workers or spinning them as unreasonable, tbh. Many people either maliciously or unintentionally spread misleading info, like for example, spreading misleading, incorrect interpretations of writer pay to make the strikes seem unreasonable.
Help others get informed - spread good info from the unions, explain the strikes to family and friends, correct misinformation or anti-union takes where you see them.
If you're able:
Attend picket lines - primarily in LA and NYC, but other filming locations in Atlanta, etc also have pickets! Non-union-members are welcome! You can just show up and hang out and be a part of the movement! Check union websites for schedules and info.
Donate to strike funds / charities - the Entertainment Community Fund is one of the key ones, as it provides funds to ANY workers who need them, including other production crews who are out of work due to the strikes. There are also individual strike funds run by the unions or other related charities.
Hi- er, this is my first-ever writer's strike, how does one not cross a picket line in this context? I know how not to do it with things like Amazon and IRL strikes, but how does it apply to media/streaming?
Hi, this is a great question, because it allows me to write about the difference between honoring a picket line and a boycott. (This is reminding me of the labor history podcast project that's lain fallow in my drafts folder for some time now...) In its simplest formulation, the difference between a picket line and a boycott is that a picket line targets an employer at the point of production (which involves us as workers), whereas a boycott targets an employer at the point of consumption (which involves us as consumers).
So in the case of the WGA strike, this means that at any company that is being struck by the WGA - I've seen Netflix, Amazon, Apple, Disney, Warner Brothers Discovery, NBC, Paramount, and Sony mentioned, but there may be more (check the WGA website and social media for a comprehensive list) - you do not cross a picket line, whether physical or virtual. This means you do not take a meeting with them, even if its a pre-existing project, you do not take phone calls or texts or emails or Slacks from their executives, you do not pitch them on a spec script you've written, and most of all you do not answer any job application.
Because if this strike is like any strike since the dawn of time, you will see the employers put out ads for short-term contracts that will be very lucrative, generally above union scale - because what they're paying for in addition to your labor is you breaking the picket and damaging the strike - to anyone willing to scab against their fellow workers. GIven that one of the main issues of the WGA are the proliferation of short-term "mini rooms" whereby employers are hiring teams of writers to work overtime for a very short period, to the point where they can only really do the basics (a series outline, some "broken stories," and some scripts) and then have the showrunner redo everything on their lonesome, while not paying writers long-term pay and benefits, I would imagine we're going to see a lot of scab contracts being offered for these mini rooms.
But for most of us, unless we're actively working as writers in Hollywood, most that isn't going to be particularly relevant to our day-to-day working lives. If you're not a professional or aspiring Hollywood writer, the important thing to remember honoring the picket line doesn't mean the same thing as a boycott. WGA West hasn't called on anyone to stop going to the movies or watching tv/steeaming or to cancel their streaming subscriptions or anything like that. If and when that happens, WGA will go to some lengths to publicize that ask - and you should absolutely honor it if you can - so there will be little in the way of ambiguity as to what's going on.
That being said, one of the things that has happened in the past in other strikes is that well-intentioned people get it into their heads to essentially declare wildcat (i.e, unofficial and unsanctioned) boycotts. This kind of stuff comes from a good place, someone wanting to do more to support the case and wanting to avoid morally contaminating themselves by associating with a struck company, but it can have negative effects on the workers and their unions. Wildcat boycotts can harm workers by reducing back-end pay and benefits they get from shows if that stuff is tied to the show's performance, and wildcat boycotts can hurt unions by damaging negotiations with employers that may or may not be going on.
The important thing to remember with all of this is that the strike is about them, not us. Part of being a good ally is remembering to let the workers' voices be heard first and prioritizing being a good listener and following their lead, rather than prioritizing our feelings.
y'all heard about the WGA strike? here's how you can support us if you're not a member.
writers with the WGA have access to a strike fund that will help them out, but there are many other hollywood employees, assistants, and crew members who will need financial aid during the strike. you can donate to the entertainment community fund (tax deductible!) and help ease their burden. choose "film and television" in the drop-down menu under the gift designation.
if you can't donate, please at least boost and spread the word! and thank you to everyone who's been showing solidarity and asking how they can help us out, it's been overwhelming in the best sense of the word ♡
https://x.com/wgawest/status/1706823193561067770?s=46
We did it!!
I was at one of the strikes with my dad who is part of the musicians union to support the wga in their struggles.
during the wga/sag-aftra strike, we may see:
film in other countries continuing as usual, but those actors/writers are NOT crossing picket lines! other countries unions often have rules where they can’t strike in solidarity with american unions.
new indie movies separate from hollywood studios. indie movies can continue as usual too, and may even use union actors if they follow certain guidelines and/or get permission from the union.
awards shows, although they might look different and may be postponed. if there are award shows during the strike, there’s a chance they will just be live conferences announcing winners with no celebrations attached.
celebrities will not be promoting their work during this time— that WOULD be crossing the picket line! yes, this includes social media. they can still post on social media, as long as it doesn’t pertain to their work.
a lot more reality tv. this happened the last time there was a writers strike, and it will certainly happen again.
actors will also not be able to campaign for awards. this awards season is going to be a strange one.
propaganda from hollywood. they are already trying to flip the narrative by claiming they can break the unions, but they can’t. the strikers have the power. stand with them for however long this takes!