In talking about the WGA/Producers labor dispute, I’ve been pretty clear that while I see where both sides are coming from on different issues, they are both to blame for the debacle this thing has become, and innocent bystanders are the ones suffering the most from their actions. Case in point… the cancellation of the Golden Globes.
I don’t really care about the Golden Globe Awards, but I still have no idea why the WGA decided to target it for shut down. According the the Associated Press, the WGA decision to picket the Golden Globes, thus putting actors and stars in a position where they can’t cross the picket line, thus leaving the glamour show with no stars… has cost the Los Angeles economy… are you ready for this… EIGHTY MILLION DOLLARS!!!
The Associated Press article goes on to describe everything from drivers, caterers, stylists, fashion, waiters ect. ect. ect. who look forward to Golden Globes night as their second biggest night of business of the year, are out of luck.
At The Woods Exquisite Flowers, workers are normally busy this week preparing elaborate floral arrangements that studios ship to the hotel rooms of Globe nominees. Even more elaborate displays are readied for the eventual winners. Not this year. “I would say it will probably affect us to the extent that we’ll be down about 40 to 50 percent,” said owner George Woods.
So far, it is estimated that… hold on to your socks… $1.4 BILLION DOLLARS in wages have been lost since the start of the strike. Let me repeat that number… $1.4 BILLION DOLLARS in wages have been lost. Mostly by people who can’t afford to lose it. People who aren’t producers or writers.
This thing needs to end and end soon.
But while I support the desire of the WGA to get more wages and rights to income from new media… their decision to sabotage the Golden Globes was unnecessary, short sighted, and didn’t do anything to move them closer to their goal. So while WGA leaders pat themselves on the back for “wrecking havoc” on the town, working men and women who have nothing to do with their fight lost $80 million. Yay team! But I bet you won’t see that in the next little cute video they produce.
