Disney CEO Bob Iger recently appeared on CNBC Squeaky box and spoke about the current state of the writers’ and actors’ unions as they go on strike in Hollywood and says they are “unrealistic” with their expectations. With the actors about to join the writers in a strike, Iger said:
“It’s very disturbing to me. We’ve talked about disruptive forces in this business and all the challenges that we’re facing, the COVID recovery that’s underway, hasn’t fully returned. This is the worst time in the world to add to that disruption. I understand the desire of any union organization to work on behalf of its members to achieve maximum compensation and be compensated fairly for the value they provide. We were able, as an industry, to negotiate a great deal with the filmmakers guild that reflects the value that filmmakers contribute to this great business. We wanted to do the same thing with the writers and we’d like to do the same thing with the actors. There’s a level of expectation that they have that’s not realistic. And they’re adding to the set of challenges this company is already facing that is, quite frankly, very disruptive.”
As you can imagine, there is a lot of frustration on both sides right now. Talks over the actors’ union contract concluded late Wednesday evening without a resolution. Their strike will effectively stop all film and television productions. SAG-AFTRA has not been on strike for over four decades, and the last time both the actors’ and writers’ unions went on strike at the same time was in 1960.
Iger went on to say that while he respects the right of unions to “get as much compensation as possible for their employees,” they must “be realistic about the business environment and what this business can offer.” He continued:
“It’s going to have a very, very damaging effect on the entire business, and unfortunately, there’s huge collateral damage in the industry for people who are support services, and I could go on and on. It will affect the economy of several regions, also due to the size of the business. It’s a shame, it’s really a shame.”
He’s not wrong, so hopefully they can figure things out and come to some sort of compromise that both parties can live with. However, it doesn’t look like that will happen anytime soon.
Via: variety
by Joey Paur
Source: Geek Tyrant
Lloyd Grunewald is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. He is a talented writer who focuses on bringing the latest entertainment-related news to his readers. With a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and a passion for writing, Lloyd delivers engaging articles that keep his readers informed and entertained.
