When Hollywood Halts: A Retrospective on Labor Strikes
Herman Phillips Herman Phillips

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.

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