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WGA Strike Costing $80 Million Per Day and 33,000 Jobs
No matter what industry it’s in, labour conflict comes with a very high price tag. Not just for the companies, and not just for the workers striking, but also for the economic lungs and peripheral jobs of the communities they’re in. The entertainment industry is not immune from that… as a matter of fact, it’s probably more prone to this than most others.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, by the end of the month, the WGA strike will cost the Los Angeles economy roughly $80 million per day, and cost 33,000 jobs.
AND FOR SOME REASON THESE TWO SIDES HAVEN’T SAT DOWN TOGETHER AT THE TABLE SINCE NOVEMBER 5TH!!!!!
I’m not saying either one of these sides should have caved in… but to be costing the community $80 million per day, and effecting the jobs and livelihood of 33,000 OTHER people… you would at least think both sides would be sitting at the negotiating table TRYING to hammer out a deal instead of playing proverbial chicken!
The two sides have agreed to restart negotiations on November 26th. A FULL 3 WEEKS after their last meeting. 3 weeks of not even talking. 3 weeks of other people having their livelihoods jeopardized. 3 weeks of the local economy getting hammered. Good job guys… good job.
Imagine a director’s or actor’s strike following on the heels of this writer’s strike…
No kidding Mr. Stay Puft.
It really is shocking, and you really do feel for the people who arnt even involved in the strike action but are losing there jobs and lively hood.
I’m sure it’s not what you mean, but Gio, from the sound of your post it looks like you point the finger at the WGA and the strikers specifically.
As for costing $ in L.A.? What I’m about to say isn’t going to be entirely popular.
Long before the pickets, studios have “saved” money by taking film production outside of the States, specifically L.A. I’m not saying that is right or wrong, I’m just pointing that out because that tactic has been contreversial for taking film production jobs out of L.A. as well…and I have heard tons of bellyaching about that over the years, as I’m sure others have.
No not misunderstand me. While I support the WGA, I do not 100% agree with all the things they want. I too am hoping for some sort of comprimise in the next few days. As pointed out by Puft above, the other strikes could very well come around shortly. The only TV channels left will be The Weather Channel and the History Channel, our films will be animation, docs, *maybe* something like ‘Open Water”, foreign…or a whole bunch of short films edited together.
Popcorn sales will be down. As will SnoCaps and Good & Plenty.
Anarchy!
Hey Darren,
You said:
“from the sound of your post it looks like you point the finger at the WGA and the strikers specifically.”
How on earth do you figure that? I specifically said:
“I’m not saying either one of these sides should have caved in”
AND
“The two sides…”
AND
“you would at least think both sides would be sitting at the negotiating table TRYING…”
How on earth does that even remotely sound like I’m just pointing the finger at the WGA???
Well, it’s just the way it reads to me, John. A few days ago, your WGA strike post resulted in many int’l friends thinking you were against the writers, where they chimed in, bashing the writers on the picket line…
And
If you say the two sides should not have caved in…then…you chastise both for the industry loss. Which is it? Can’t have it both ways.
Darren,
I don’t support the writers strike. I don’t take a side in this issue.
And if you actually read my post, I was chastising both sides for not even sitting down and TRYING to negotiate a settlement. I was very clear on this.
the producers walked away from the talks john.
Hey Alfie,
That’s not true:
“A federal mediator who recently joined talks between the guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers convened a hasty last bargaining session Sunday amid speculation the AMPTP would deliver a new proposal to the guild. But despite that marathon session lasting well into Sunday night, when the parties emerged from the Sofitel hotel in West Hollywood it was clear the talks had broken down again.
One flashpoint involved the WGA East’s refusal to halt the start of its strike after East Coast clocks struck midnight. Negotiations were still in session at the time, and the WGA West wasn’t scheduled to strike for another three hours.
“Notwithstanding the fact that negotiations were ongoing, the WGA decided to start their strike in New York,” AMPTP president Nick Counter said. “When we asked if they would ’stop the clock’ for the purpose of delaying the strike to allow negotiations to continue, they refused.
“We made an attempt at meeting them in a number of their key areas including Internet streaming and jurisdiction in new media,” Counter said. “Ultimately, the guild was unwilling to compromise on most of their major demands. It is unfortunate that they choose to take this irresponsible action.”
John,
The way I understand it, the last time the writers and producers met, the writers tried all they could to make a deal so that their wold be no strike. They even offered to take the DVD royalties off the table, something most writers were angry about, yet the studios won’t budge on the internet deal. the WGA gave up more than 50% of the stuff they are fighting for to try to avoid a stike, but the studios walked away from the talks….
Hey Peter,
According to the federal mediator, there were HEAVY last minute talks going on, and both sides started to make some concessions… but the WGA EAST refused to delay their strike by 3 hours (so that their deadline would match up with the WGA WEST deadline) so the talks could continue. So at 9pm PST (3 hours before the WGA WEST deadline) and while talks were in progress, the WGA EAST started the strike which ended the talks.
If this leads to less american studio movies being made and more foreign movies or independent movies both fictional and documentary being released in theatres and gaining the attention that the studio stuff normally receives, I hope they stay on strike for a year or two.
Definately not a fan of only being able to read half the article without clicking on ‘more’.
It was fine how it was.
It is hard knowing this strike is hurting T.V. and movies. But for both sides, no attempt to talk has each day wasting 80 MILLION FUCKIN’ DOLLARS & 33,000 JOBS~?!
Holy shit, a deal needs to be done now. I don’t think we can afford to go a whole year with this.
I do think it’s awful that the writers strike is affecting people who can ill afford to strike. Say for example assistants and other staff.
It’s one thing to strike when you’re a sucessfull writer like Joss Whedon, it’s quite another to be forced out of a job that pays sod all becuase production has to halt on your TV show.
I support the writers, although I think some of their demands are a little excessive. But I can’t help feeling sorry for the people further down the pecking order.