
Welcome to Day One of a historic double labor strike organized by the Writers Guild of America (WGA), who have entered their 75th day of striking, and now the Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). Not since 1960, since Ronald Reagan was SAG president have the two unions struck against Hollywood together.
With temperatures set to climb to 95 degrees, the picketing began at 10 sites across Los Angeles, with demonstrations planned throughout the day. Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery were expected to be among the primary targets for the crowds. In New York, where members of WGA East had been picketing for nearly three months, actors joined writers in front of Netflix HQ and the Paramount offices in Times Square.
The massive crowd outside Netflix shouted chants of “Hey hey, ho ho, corporate greed has got to go,” while one writer carried a sign that read “Where the fuck is Ben Affleck?”
Union leader Fran Drescher, along with other union leaders and negotiating committee members, arrived at Netflix via bus. They were greeted by the TV press and emphasized the importance of sending a message to consumers of the industry.
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Drescher stressed that the exposure of actors on the picket lines would ultimately impact the studios’ bottom line and urged consumers to consider where they spend their money and what they support.
“We want to send a loud message to consumers of this industry, because then we’ll have a fighting chance” said a passionate Drescher. She stressed that the exposure of A-list actors on the picket lines will have an impact on the studios’ bottom line. “What they spend their hard-earned dollars on and what they support matters.”
Various actors participated in the picketing, including Dustin Milligan from Schitt’s Creek, who highlighted the economic disparity between celebrities and the majority of actors in the union. He emphasized that the contract negotiations were not just about the few actors who receive lucrative deals but also about the majority who struggle to make a living wage.
Familiar faces such as Patton Oswalt and Marg Helgenberger joined the picket lines, and at the Walt Disney Studios lot, Jake McDormand walked the line. A striking actor recited Drescher’s speech through a bullhorn, and a picket sign depicting Disney CEO Bob Iger as Marie Antoinette drew attention.
Iger’s recent appearance on CNBC, where he referred to the actors’ demands as “not realistic,” did not sit well with many in striking Hollywood, especially given his recent contract extension.
Additionally, there was a noticeable increase in police presence during the SAG-AFTRA strike, with uniformed Burbank PD members and police motorcycles stationed around the block. Side streets were closed to traffic to accommodate the anticipated turnout of the picketers.