LA City Council Puts Support Behind Striking Writers
LOS ANGELES, CA — The City Council on Friday labeled the Writers Guild of America’s demands “reasonable” and urged studios to return to the bargaining table and end the strike.
Now heading into its third month, the strike by the WGA has all but shut down production in Hollywood, causing major ripple effects across the Los Angeles economy.
“As we hit day 60 of this strike, we can’t allow these big corporations to play games with the future of this industry and refuse to pay their workers a living wage,” said Councilman Hugo Soto-Martínez.
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The councilman, whose district includes Hollywood, introduced the motion with Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky, whose district includes the Fox Studio lot.
“WGA writers, like all workers, deserve to paid what they are worth, and they deserve dignity in their work,” Yaroslavsky said. “It’s past time the studios recognize that, come back to the table, and end this strike now,”
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At issue is an impasse in contract negotiations between the WGA and studios; sticking points include residual pay, minimum staffing levels and provisions about the use of artificial intelligence.
The AMPTP has downplayed some of the union’s demands, insisting that writers were given substantial bumps in streaming residuals under the last contract. Studios have also challenged the union’s demand on minimum numbers of writers on projects and work guarantees.
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The council unanimously adopted Friday’s resolution; Councilwoman Nithya Raman recused herself because her husband is a WGA member. Councilman Curren Price, charged with embezzlement earlier this month, was absent.
Friday’s action comes after the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors earlier this month put its support behind the WGA
City News Service contributed to this report.
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