The WGA announced a new demand this past Friday that could potentially push the length of the strike indefinitely. According to Deadline, “The demands include point that the companies agree to a health care benefit extension that would give striking writers more time to qualify for the health coverage that many face losing because of a lack of earnings during the work-stoppage.” This new ask from the WGA comes after the highly anticipated meeting with the AMPTP last Friday, which resulted in a stalemate with no deal being reached.
Writers had to make at least $41,773 a year under the old contract to qualify for health care coverage. With the three-month work hiatus for writers, it makes those needed earnings more difficult to achieve in less time. Not only have writers been affected by the potential loss of health insurance coverage, but this includes other industry workers on strike as well. Via Deadline, “SAG-AFTRA has been on strike since July 14, and its members are also facing the loss of health care coverage.” Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the National Executive Director of SAG-AFTRA, revealed recently in a podcast that the requirements for pension and eligibility requirements will stay the same during the strike. He hopes to modify the requirements or make exceptions, but with the Pension & Health Plans being run by a joint board of trustees; management-side trustees, Crabtree-Ireland believes there is no positive outcome where they agree to modify the eligibility requirements for SAG-AFTRA.
The WGA publicly acknowledged that health care coverage is not the only new matter they would like the AMPTP to address. According to Deadline, “On Friday night, the WGA said that Stutzman also made clear that any new deal will also need to address reinstatement of striking writers, and arbitration of disputes arising during the strike. We will also seek the right for individual WGA members to honor other unions’ picket lines as they have honored ours during this strike.” Even if the WGA has their demands met, SAG-AFTRA is still battling for their needs to be addressed, which will continue to push the strike closer to the end of the year.