Writers on Strike

[BobbyBrandt]

I have never been a big fan of labor unions, even those that I had to join in my younger days (UAW, Longshoremens, Retail Clerks, United Federation of Teachers, etc.) I also won't own a home with an HOA or belong to a political party. I just prefer to advocate for myself and my beliefs without having to be guided by those of others.

That being the case, I will support the current writers' labor stoppage and not accept any opportunities that are presented to me that would impede the efforts of the writers to receive equitable compensation and respect for their work.

 

[MrPixel]

The strike started today, the collective-bargaining contract having run out last night at midnight. There were closed negotiations that apparently didn't conclude to everyone's satisfaction.

"What is wrong" is their craft has been transmogrified into a gig economy by the streaming services doing their own productions. The bulk of the writing community depended on - and their previous contract was written based on - the standard TV season, September to May. Streaming series, being the dominant medium these days, know no season and have roughly 1/3 the number of episodes per production run. Also, the residual scheme with streaming producers is hardly set in concrete, and was a point of contention on the previous contract that was never fully resolved since streaming was in its infancy then.

The writers' beef is legitimate, the people with the money have changed the rules if not the playing field. I'm with the WGA.

 

[gunhilltrain]

When did the strike start and what exactly do they hope to achieve? I mean, what is wrong with the current conditions and what caused them to strike now?

Here is an article from a far-left site. I read them because their diagnoses are pretty good, although their solutions are mostly unworkable. They usually have decent coverage of labor issues if you can get around the "jargon" they use.

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2023/05/01/onko-m01.html

 

[KeithD]

I have never been a big fan of labor unions, even those that I had to join in my younger days (UAW, Longshoremens, Retail Clerks, United Federation of Teachers, etc.) I also won't own a home with an HOA or belong to a political party. I just prefer to advocate for myself and my beliefs without having to be guided by those of others.

That being the case, I will support the current writers' labor stoppage and not accept any opportunities that are presented to me that would impede the efforts of the writers to receive equitable compensation and respect for their work.

I can't think of an instance of where anything got done by flying solo. Progressing toward benefit to society pretty much requires folks to combine their efforts toward an identifiable goal. When they get there, those who sat back advocating just themselves tend to get covered by the work that others did.

 

[Trionyx]

I have never been a big fan of labor unions, even those that I had to join in my younger days (UAW, Longshoremens, Retail Clerks, United Federation of Teachers, etc.) I also won't own a home with an HOA or belong to a political party. I just prefer to advocate for myself and my beliefs without having to be guided by those of others.

I can't think of an instance of where anything got done by flying solo. Progressing toward benefit to society pretty much requires folks to combine their efforts toward an identifiable goal. When they get there, those who sat back advocating just themselves tend to ge

Watch it gentlepeople. You are drifting closer to the rapids.

 

[KeithD]

Watch it gentlepeople. You are drifting closer to the rapids.

Yep, acknowledged.