Management and Staff Union Meet to Resolve Writers Guild of America West Strike
Management of the Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) met with the staff union on Sunday night in an effort to resolve the ongoing staff strike, which has been ongoing for a week.
Despite some progress on certain issues, the staff union expressed dissatisfaction with the level of progress made during the meeting.
According to Dylan Holmes, co-chair of the Writers Guild Staff Union bargaining committee, “Management is still not ready to meet the moment. They do not want us to be on this picket line and are trying to figure out how to get us off of it. But they are still unwilling to bargain in good faith with us in order to get there.”
The WGSU initiated the strike on Feb. 17, citing the failure of union leadership to address the staff’s concerns adequately. The staff union, consisting of approximately 100 guild employees, argues that wages are too low and that workers are subjected to unfair promotion and discipline practices. Public data indicates that many WGAW employees earn between $50,000 to $80,000 annually.
WGA management has refuted claims of bad-faith bargaining and reiterated its commitment to working with the staff to reach a resolution. Following the Sunday night meeting at the International Longshore and Warehouse Union hall in San Pedro, another meeting was anticipated for Tuesday night.
If the strike continues, it could potentially impact the WGA Awards scheduled for March 8 at the J.W. Marriott hotel in downtown Los Angeles, as staff members typically play a crucial role at the event. In the event of a strike, concerns may arise among members about crossing a picket line.
A number of WGA members joined the staffers in picketing outside the union headquarters at Fairfax Avenue and 3rd Street on Tuesday morning.
Writer Joe Russo, a former assistant lot coordinator during the 2023 WGA strike, criticized the union’s stance, stating, “It’s very hypocritical and quite frankly embarrassing that a union that is always at the forefront of trying to get a good deal for its members won’t do the same for its own staff.”
The WGSU, established in April, is striving to secure its first contract. In August, the union filed an unfair labor practices complaint against the WGA for terminating a union staffer for union activity. During the Tuesday picket, WGA workers and members held signs holding Ellen Stutzman, the guild’s executive director, accountable for alleged unfair labor practices.
The WGA is scheduled to commence negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on March 16 for a new contract on behalf of writers. The WGA has affirmed that bargaining will proceed even if the staff continues to strike.
Writer Joe Russo expressed concern about negotiating on two fronts, stating, “It would be great to resolve this, get all our ducks in order, stop airing our dirty laundry and focus on a deal for members, because at the end of the day that will help staff too.”
