This is a historic decision for Hollywood. For the first time in more than 15 years, the Writers Guild of America (WGA), the very powerful American screenwriters association, announced on Monday that thousands of television and film professionals will go on strike starting Tuesday, May 2, to demand a pay rise. .
“Acting with the authority vested in them by the WGA East Coast Board, the WGA West Coast Board decided to strike unanimously, effective Tuesday, May 2, at 12:01.The union announced it in a message posted on Twitter.
“The decision was made after six weeks of negotiations with Netflix, Amazon, Apple, Disney, Warner Bros Discovery, NBC Universal, Paramount+ and Sony under the Film and Television Producers Association (AMPTP). While our negotiating committee went into this process with the goal of reaching a fair deal, the response from the studios was sadly inadequate given the existential crisis the writers were facing.”added the union.
Suspended exiles?
Among the demands of the screenwriters is a salary increase, as well as a share of the income from listening. The screenwriters also pointed to the lack of improvement – even reductions – in the salaries of the leaders. According to them, the number of minimum-wage writers has never been greater, and fewer and fewer writers are being hired to work on serials. Especially the bug with the plethora of miniseries currently being produced. Platforms and other production companies noted the continued economic pressure that has forced them to cut back on their economic expenses.
This strike could lead to the suspension of major American talk shows this week and the delay of some filming if it continues over time. The previous strike in 2007 caused production to be paralyzed for 100 days, costing the entire industry more than $2 billion. Many serials whose scripts were no longer in stock had to take a break from shooting for a few weeks.
The decision was taken after six weeks of negotiations. @Netflix, @Amazon, @Apple, @Disney, @wbd, @NBCUniversal, @Paramountplus And @Sony under the umbrella of AMPTP.
— Writers Guild of America (@WGAWest) 2 May 2023
Clara Kolodny
Source: Programme Television
Joseph Fearn is an entertainment and television aficionado who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a keen eye for what’s hot in the world of TV, Joseph keeps his readers informed about the latest trends and must-see shows.
