Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass took no sides in her first statement since the Writers Guild of America strike began, instead focusing on a solution.
In a statement, Bass said, “Los Angeles relies on a strong entertainment industry to be the envy of the world, while Angelenos work in good middle-class jobs and the families it supports.”
Bass was a strong Labor supporter, but she also championed her role in politics as a consensus builder. When she was in Congress, Bass’s district included the heavy studio and industrial area of Culver City.
The strike poses an early challenge to her tenure as a prolonged work stoppage could have devastating effects on the region’s economy.
The AMPTP estimated that WGA writers and IATSE union members lost $342.8 million in wages during the 2007-2008 work stoppage. The New York Times reported that the total damage to the Los Angeles economy was $2.1 billion, including an $830 million bite from statewide retail sales as entertainers cut spending.
Two US Senate candidates, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA), each sided with the WGA.
The White House, meanwhile, refused to comment specifically on the strike.
In a statement, Schiff said, “The WGA’s fight for better wages and wage protection in the age of streaming content is essential to sustaining the livelihoods of those who make the entertainment industry such a creative powerhouse. I stand by.” with the strikers and call on both parties to quickly reach an agreement that supports good wages for workers and keeps our favorite TV and film productions going.”
Porter wrote on Twitter: “All workers should be paid fairly, even in a changing economy. I join the chorus of Americans in support of WGAWest and WGAEast and urge both sides to quickly reach an agreement that recognizes the hard work and dedication of writers. #WGA Strong.”
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Tuesday: “You’ve heard us say a lot that we’re not talking about an ongoing strike, but in a broader sense … President Biden is a strong supporter of the workers’ right to strike.” .”
The last WGA strike in 2007-2008 occurred during a heated battle for the Democratic presidential nomination, and all three leading candidates Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards explicitly supported the writers. Edwards even joined pickets outside NBC’s Burbank studios.
Source: Deadline
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
