A day before the scheduled meeting between the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), tensions are running high as both parties prepare to re-engage in contract negotiations. In an email, which was circulated today, the guild warned its members that the management may not be ready to make significant concessions.
In a show of unity and determination, writers and performers have been on strike for 94 days, seeking a fair deal that ensures the future of their professions in the entertainment industry. Recently, SAG-AFTRA joined the strike, further amplifying the voices demanding better wages and working conditions.
Throughout the struggle, the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) has resorted to familiar tactics, attempting to divide and conquer labor and refusing to engage in meaningful negotiations. In a bid to weaken their resolve, the AMPTP has used scare tactics, rumors, and misinformation in the media, suggesting that the strike has no impact and is beneficial to the companies financially.
The email began:
“We have been on strike for 94 days. SAG-AFTRA joined us 21 days ago. Both our unions are striking to ensure the future of writers and performers in this business that cannot exist without us.
Every step of the way through this struggle, the AMPTP has run its tired anti-union playbook straight out of the 2007/08 strike.”
REELated:
However, writers and actors have firmly refuted these claims, emphasizing the industry’s reliance on their talents and the significant disruption the strikes have caused to TV and movie production. With the creative community on the picket lines, the companies cannot carry on with business as usual.
Drawing parallels to the 2007/08 strike, writers recall how the AMPTP engaged in negotiations only to stall progress and undermine the Writers Guild of America’s proposals. Anonymous quotes and backchannel talks have fueled rumors and hope of resolution, but writers remain cautious, seeing these as tactics to pressure them into accepting a subpar deal.
“Now two unions are on strike, and the industry is three months into a shutdown that is causing delay after delay to TV and movies. It is obviously past time for the companies to get a new playbook—one that recognizes the legitimate issues that caused these strikes and takes steps to address them.
But we have been down this road before.
Here’s what happened in 2007/08: After negotiations broke off on October 31st causing the strike, they resumed in late November only to break off for a second time in December as the strike continued. Why? Because when the companies came back to the table, they weren’t serious about addressing the WGA’s proposals. They called Guild leadership “out of touch.” They insisted the DGA pattern was all they would give. They waged a relentless campaign through the media and surrogates to spread dissent.
We won’t prejudge what’s to come. But playbooks die hard. So far, the companies have wasted months on their same failed strategy. They have attempted, time and time again, through anonymous quotes in the media, to use scare tactics, rumors and lies to weaken our resolve. Article after article has perpetuated a myth that the strike has no impact because streaming services have libraries and some products in the pipeline. Pundits quoting studio executives claim that the strike is good for the companies financially and that they will be happy to have it extend into 2024 so they can write off their losses.
This is calculated disinformation about the real impact of the ongoing strikes. We have shut down production. Union writers and actors are so essential in this industry that the companies cannot even attempt to do the work without us. It is not a viable business strategy for these companies to shut down their business for three months and counting, no matter how much they try and pretend it is.
The rumors of backchannel talks were rampant this week, entirely driven by management, and only because they see it as a useful tactic. Give the town hope, soften us up, and try to use the suffering of other workers and businesses to pressure us to settle. Get us to throw away the power we have collectively accumulated and make us accept a bad deal. It is all part of the playbook. Every move they make at the bargaining table and every rumor away from it needs to be evaluated through the lens of their attempts to get us to accept less.”
In response to the WGA’s statements, the AMPTP issued a comment on Thursday, expressing their disappointment with the union’s rhetoric. The group referred to the WGA’s comments as “unfortunate” and clarified that the upcoming discussion with the WGA is intended to assess whether there is a willing bargaining partner.
The meeting scheduled for this Friday is seen as a crucial opportunity for the AMPTP to demonstrate a genuine commitment to addressing the concerns raised during the strike and working towards a mutually beneficial resolution. Until then, the writers and performers vow to persist on the picket lines, united in their pursuit of a fair deal that safeguards the future of their professions.
