The WGA Writer's Strike is the Revolution Working-Class Artists Needed
Spoiler alert: they are going to win.
On Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023, both the West and East branches of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) officially declared a writers’ strike. After weeks of failed negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television Producers (AMPTP), writers of the entertainment industry put down their pencils, grabbed their picket signs, and began marching outside of the studios in both Los Angeles and New York City. At the time of this writing, the strike has entered its fourth week and has no end in sight.
The demands were simple and straightforward, which were shared widely on social media the day the last contract ended. The WGA demanded higher pay and benefits. They also demanded a new model for residuals in the age of streaming services. A curb on mini-rooms and required minimum staffing. Of course, AI also became part of the discussion as more and more studios are exploring the idea of taking advantage of the emerging technology to create content. Essentially, the WGA argued that the studios were undervaluing writers and turning the profession into a gig economy. They have made it very clear that the fight is not just for pay and benefits but for the sake of the profession itself. And with 97.85% of union members voting in favor of a strike authorization, it is clear that writers are hurting economically and are ready for change. Yet despite weeks of negotiations, the major studios under AMPTP have failed to reach an agreement in good faith.
Thus, the strike became official. Writers have received support from various fellow unions in the entertainment industry standing in solidarity with them against the greed of the major productions studios, even from abroad. It should also be noted that other unions such as SAG-AFTRA and the DGA have contracts expiring within the next few months. If this were to occur, then the film and TV industry is on the verge of a massive and possibly total shutdown.
The consequences of the strike have become clear. Popular TV shows and late-night programs have already gone dark. Studios have lost an incredible amount of profits and their stocks have taken massive hits. And many have noted that this is only the beginning of the WGA strike’s impact on the entertainment industry.
Writers have seen their careers face an existential crisis from the corporate greed of the major studios. Many have gone to social media to share their economic realities from a seemingly lucrative profession. A writer for Jane the Virgin was paid a merely $0.03 from two episodes. A writer for FX’s The Bear attended the WGA Award ceremony with a negative bank account. Writers have dismissed the talking point of not having a job during the strike with the reality that they hardly get paid with the job. Writers have seen their profession manipulated and transformed into an unsustainable gig economy. And with studios already finding possible ways to replace writers, or at least make them less essential, writers from marginalized and underrepresented communities are facing an even bigger uphill battle. The writers are not just fighting for higher wages and better benefits. They are fighting to save the very existence of writing as a career.
And yet, this strike is more than just about writers. As other entertainment unions begin their negotiations under their own looming deadlines, there has been a shift in attitude within the working-class. The peak of the COVID-19 pandemic has proven to the average American worker their government will not protect them, nor does their employers, and even their fellow Americans. Those protesting the lockdowns weren’t demanding to go back to work themselves but for others to go back to work. They were protesting the lockdowns to receive service. Thus, a new labor movement arose with frontline workers unionizing across the country, most notably Amazon and Starbucks workers. After years of rising economic inequality, wage stagnation, inflation, and being forced to work during a pandemic, the working-class is finally fighting back.
And now the revolution is reaching working-class artists. Pursuing art has historically been considered a financial risk. Whether it’s as a writer, a painter, an actor, etc., there is no guarantee of a successful and stable artistic career. Under capitalism, one’s value is based solely on one’s income and profit, and the myth of the starving artist has fueled a perception and validation against compensating working-class artists. And with generative AI being considered to replace writers, digital artists, and possibly even actors, legitimate artistic careers are in trouble.
Thus, the WGA strike is possibly the most important moment for working-class artists right now. Despite what the studios may think, they need writers. They need human writers. AI cannot create original material but can only recreate what’s already been created. True creativity comes from human artists. Studios have already lost billions in the first two weeks of the strike alone, billions that could have been used to pay the writers. Actors, directors, and animators may soon join them. This strike is proving to the country, to the studios, and to the writers themselves the power they possess to demand what they are worth and owed. Again, this strike is more than just about the money. It is more about the threat of AI. It is about the existential value of art and artists in our culture.
It is terrifying to pursue art. Being an artist means being vulnerable all while pursuing the business of validation. But the writers’ strike has inspired artists across every industry to show their support and solidarity. The whole world is watching their fight against the major studios. But it is very clear that writers are not going anywhere. The actors are not going anywhere. Visual artists are not going anywhere. If this strike proves anything, it is that working-class artists matter. The WGA writers’ strike is the revolution working-class artists needed. Spoiler alert: they are going to win.
Thank you so much for reading. If you wish to support the WGA Writer’s Strike, click on this link to learn more how of you can help: WGA Contract 2023.
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Thank you again for reading. See you next time. Keep writing and union strong!