The Writers Guild is not backing down. In fact, they’re calling out the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) for their “divide and conquer” strategy. The AMPTP may think they can make a deal with the Directors Guild and force the WGA to accept it and end the strike, but the WGA is not falling for it this time. They’re accusing the AMPTP of “gas-lighting” union members and telling a “lie” about the breakdown of their contract negotiations.
During the last writers’ strike in 2008, the DGA made a deal with the AMPTP on the 73rd day of the strike. This time around, the DGA began negotiations for its own contract nine days into the WGA strike, but the WGA says the companies’ “divide and conquer strategy won’t work this time.”
The WGA Negotiating Committee is not mincing words. They’re calling out the AMPTP for their successful “corporate unity” strategy that has contained labor costs in an industry where workers have tremendous power. But this time, every union in town is coming out in support of the WGA. The DGA has been clear that it is facing a tough and critical negotiation to address its members’ needs. SAG-AFTRA is taking a strike authorization vote as they enter negotiations to address the existential issues its members are facing. Teamsters, IATSE, and other entertainment union members have been honoring WGA picket lines across the country.
The AMPTP may remain committed to their strategy, but the WGA’s position is clear: to resolve the strike, the companies will have to negotiate with the WGA on their full agenda. The era of divide and conquer is over. The WGA will continue to march until the companies negotiate fairly with them. They do it now with the support of their sister guilds and unions, and they will support them whenever it’s their turn.
