When Hollywood Halts: A Retrospective on Labor Strikes
Labor strikes have a long and storied history in the film and television industry, with the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) being two of the most prominent unions that have consistently engaged in strikes to protect the rights and interests of their members. The WGA's most notable strike took place in 2007-2008, and it was primarily focused on writers' demands for a larger share of revenue from digital media. The strike ended after the WGA reached a tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) that included increased residuals for writers from digital media. The WGA had previously gone on strike in 1960, 1973, 1981, 1985, and 2007-2008, with each strike resulting in increased residuals and compensation for writers.
During the 2007-2008 strike, other Hollywood unions showed solidarity with the writers by joining them on picket lines and organizing their own rallies and events. Members of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), the Directors Guild of America (DGA), and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) showed support for the writers' demands and even refused to cross the picket lines, causing many productions to shut down.
The potential for a WGA strike in 2023 is a significant concern in the industry. The WGA contract expires in just a few days on May 1, 2023, and negotiations between the guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) began in March 2023. The WGA leadership has stated that they are willing to strike if necessary to achieve their goals, and have received an overwhelming 97.9% approval from its membership to authorize a strike if negotiations don’t go well.
While there has been solidarity among the unions, tensions also arose during previous strikes. For example, during the 2007-2008 strike, SAG expressed frustration with the WGA's decision to strike before reaching a deal, and during the 1985 WGA strike, there was tension between the WGA and the DGA when the DGA reached a deal with the AMPTP before the WGA did. However, Hollywood unions generally stand in solidarity with each other and recognize the importance of collective bargaining in protecting the rights and livelihoods of their members. Attitudes around the strike from the other Hollywood unions and guilds are likely to be supportive, at least publicly.
SAG-AFTRA has gone on strike multiple times in Hollywood's history to improve working conditions, wages, and benefits for actors. The first strike in 1937 protested low pay and working conditions for actors and led to SAG being recognized as a legitimate labor union and granting actors a pay raise. In 1960, the same year as a WGA strike, this SAG strike led to residual payments for actors whose performances were used in television reruns, establishing the residual payment system. The 1980 strike (in conjunction with AFTRA — they were negotiating for a shared contract at the time, prior to their unification) secured higher wages, better working conditions, and residuals from home media, such as videocassettes and pay television. A 2000 strike resulted in better wages and working conditions for actors in the commercial industry and the establishment of the SAG-AFTRA Commercial Contract.
The Directors Guild of America (DGA) has gone on strike only once in its history — for 3 hours and 5 minutes in the summer of 1987.
A rising tide lifts all boats. Whatever the WGA wins in these negotiations, it ultimately helps all the Hollywood unions increase their residuals and working conditions in their respective future negotiations. The WGA is one of the largest and most influential entertainment unions, and their contracts often set the standard for other guilds and unions. For example, the WGA's 2007-2008 strike resulted in gains for writers, but also led to improvements for actors, directors, and below-the-line crew in subsequent negotiations. Additionally, better working conditions and compensation for writers can lead to better quality writing, which benefits the entire industry.
In general, Hollywood unions tend to support each other in labor disputes, recognizing that gains made by one union can benefit others as well. The strikes by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA have been an important part of the unions' history in fighting for better pay and working conditions for writers and actors, and the solidarity shown by other Hollywood unions has been crucial in their success.
