Because the Writers Guild of America West prepares to barter a brand new contract with main studios, its workers union has licensed a strike of its personal.
The labor group’s workers union (WGSU), which incorporates attorneys, analysis analysts and different positions, claims that “management has dismissed [its] staff’s needs and engaged in bad faith surface bargaining with no intent to reach a fair contract.” In response to the union’s social media publish, 82% of its members voted to authorize a strike.
The union wrote that 100 members participated within the vote, “demonstrating our unity and commitment to winning a fair contract. If management won’t bargain in good faith with us at the table, we will see them on the picket line.”
With a strike authorization vote, a strike shouldn’t be assured, however it provides union leaders the facility to name one if wanted.
WGSU claims it has been negotiating with the union since final September. The pending contract, in line with a flier from the union, offers with points reminiscent of AI protections, pay raises and “basic protections” like grievance procedures.
WGA has denied these claims, arguing that the union has provided “comprehensive proposals with numerous union protections and improvements to compensation and benefits.”
“Public claims suggesting otherwise are inaccurate, and allegations of unfair labor practices are without merit. WGAW respects the staff’s right to engage in collective activity, and hopes to reach a first contract agreement with the staff union soon,” wrote a union spokesperson in a press release.
In response to the strike authorization, WGA West additionally launched a four-page comparability of the proposals and counterproposals on Thursday. The doc exhibits administration has provided a minimal annual wage of $55,000 and the workers union is asking for no less than $59,737.
The Writers Guild made headlines in 2023 for the second-longest strike within the union’s historical past. On the time, movie and TV writers have been boycotting main studios and preventing for truthful compensation. WGA West staffers additionally performed a key position within the strike, as they too joined the picketing traces.
A contract was settled after a 148-day work stoppage, however it’s set to run out on Could 1. The strike authorization vote comes because the WGA’s east and west coast teams get able to as soon as once more sit down with main film studios and streaming corporations. Negotiations between the guild and the Alliance of Movement Image and Tv Producers are anticipated to start March 16.
