AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler is taking her fight to the picket line at Fox Studios in Los Angeles. She recently joined striking actors and writers outside Netflix offices in New York City, showing her unwavering support for workers. Shuler tweeted, “When we fight together, we win together. And we won’t stop fighting until workers have a fair contract!” SAG-AFTRA, the union affiliated with AFL-CIO, noted that Shuler will be joining “striking women writers and performers on the picket line in Century City.” This includes prominent figures like Meredith Stiehm, president of the WGA West, and SAG-AFTRA national board members Frances Fisher and Shari Belafonte. It’s important to mention that SAG-AFTRA is affiliated with AFL-CIO, as is the WGA East, but the WGA West is not.
In addition to Shuler’s presence, local labor leaders Yvonne Wheeler and Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher will also be there to show their support. Wheeler is the newly elected president of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, while Gonzalez Fletcher serves as the executive secretary treasurer of the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO.
SAG-AFTRA emphasized that the entire labor movement, both locally and nationally, stands behind the writers and performers in their quest for a fair deal. They are calling on the studios and streamers to return to the negotiating table immediately and engage in good faith discussions. The guilds are demanding a fair contract that ensures writers and performers receive their fair share of the massive profits generated by streaming and other entertainment services.
The picketing will commence at 9 AM, followed by a program starting at 10:30 AM. It’s a powerful display of solidarity and determination as these individuals come together to fight for their rights.