SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher is taking a stand on the picket lines this Friday, marking the beginning of the guild’s strike against the film and television industry. Joining her will be Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the guild’s national executive director and chief negotiator, along with members of the negotiating committee.
The picketing schedule is as follows: in the morning from 9-9:40, Drescher and her team will be outside Netflix’s offices in Los Angeles. From 10-10:40, they will move to Paramount Studios, picketing outside the gates. Then, from 11:10-11:45, they will head over to Warner Bros. in Burbank. Finally, from noon to 12:45, they will be at Disney. Please note that these times are approximate.
Earlier today, Drescher delivered a fiery and impassioned speech, announcing that the guild’s national board had unanimously voted to launch the strike, which will commence at midnight PT. She criticized the companies’ bargaining positions as “insulting,” “tone deaf,” and “crazy.” Drescher expressed her initial hope to avoid a strike but ultimately felt compelled to take this action.
“We are the victims here,” she declared. “We are being victimized by a very greedy entity. I am shocked by the way the people we have been in business with are treating us. I cannot believe how far apart we are on so many things. It’s disgusting. Shame on them. They stand on the wrong side of history at this very moment. But we stand in solidarity, united like never before. Our union, sister unions, and unions worldwide are standing by us. The jig is up. We will not tolerate being marginalized and disrespected.”
Drescher called for significant contract changes that reflect the evolving landscape of Hollywood, shaped by streaming, digital platforms, and AI. She emphasized the importance of standing tall in this critical moment, warning that failure to do so could result in being replaced by machines. She criticized big business for prioritizing Wall Street over the well-being of individuals and their families.
“This is a major deal,” Drescher emphasized. “It will impact every single person in labor. We cannot accept the status quo. The contract must adapt to the changing business model. We’re not rearranging furniture on the Titanic. The jig is up, AMPTP. We demand respect and fair treatment. You cannot exist without us. It’s time to wake up and smell the coffee.”
Note: The HTML tags have been left unchanged.
