In an article by Deadline, it has been revealed that the Writers Guild of America West staff will continue to strike into its second month, with a supermajority affirmation. The staff, composed of IT workers, researchers, and theatre staff, have been at odds with leadership for their alleged Janus-faced tactics. They want the same rights the guild fought for and won against the studios.
The Writers Staff Guild Union, WSGU, demands to be included in sharing the riches of war. As the WGA won its strike in 2023, the historic 148-day work stoppage, and set a new standard of life for writers in Hollywood, including AI guardrails and streaming residuals, the writers’ staff also wants a new standard of life. They demand a cost-of-living increase, job security, and the removal of a no-strike clause that forces them to opt out of joining other union strikes. Although the Guild has offered them some concessions, such as a 7% wage increase in the first year and benefits, this has failed to appease the supermajority who have voted to hold out for job protection and solidarity with other unions.
The WGA has also recently avoided a strike, striking a deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers earlier this month, which included building upon the AI guardrails to include pay for scripts that are used to train AI and regulations regarding the works licensing. They also locked in pay increases and healthcare sustainability, while also losing a bit of ground on contract renewal cycles that have implications on industry union solidarity. The negotiations were over so fast that it was expected they would turn the same level of attention to their own staff. The supermajority has voted otherwise.
The WFSU has recently moved its picket lines right outside of the Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists building in an attempt to garner the attention of leadership. As history and current events have shown us, sometimes it can be easier to end conflict abroad than it can be to calm the conflict outside your own walls.