The Writers Guild of America West staff has made the bold decision to authorize a strike, just weeks before scheduled negotiations with major studios. The union employees, who formed their union last spring, are pushing for better wages and job protections in their initial contract. Talks with WGA West management have been ongoing since September, with the most recent session taking place on Jan. 17.
Amidst negotiations, the Writers Guild Staff Union staged a picket outside WGA West headquarters, advocating for “just cause” employee discipline and a fair deal. Following alleged unfair labor practices such as “surface bargaining,” unilateral changes, unlawful surveillance, and retaliation, 82 out of 100 employees voted in favor of authorizing a strike.
The union stated on Instagram that if management does not bargain in good faith, they will take action on the picket line. The staff union’s demands include just cause and grievance procedures, protections from artificial intelligence, work from home provisions, sustainable workloads, and pay increases reflective of their work’s value.
According to a fact sheet, 64% of staff members earn less than $84,850, the low-income threshold for a single-person household in Los Angeles County. The WGA West denies allegations of labor law violations and claims to have offered comprehensive proposals to the staff union since September.
The WGA West released a side-by-side comparison of proposals, indicating a gap between management’s minimum annual salary offer of $55,000 and the staff union’s request for $59,737. Concerns about the use of generative AI in the workplace have also been raised, with management assuring they have no plans to use AI but offering paid training if necessary.
WGA West staffers played a significant role in the 2023 WGA strike, supporting TV and film writers during months of picketing major studios. Negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers are set to resume on March 16, with bargaining expected to continue until the May 1 contract expiration.
While the WGA West prefers to avoid a staff strike during critical negotiations, they are prepared to continue AMPTP discussions regardless. The union reassured members that core functions will be maintained by management staff not part of the bargaining unit to minimize disruption on the membership.
The staff union represents a diverse range of job classifications, including attorneys, research analysts, residuals representatives, and software engineers. Union leadership expressed support for the staff’s collective action while emphasizing the importance of securing funding for health and pension benefits for both writers and staff.
