Writers Guild of America Demonstrates in New York City as Union Goes on Strike

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) confirmed its members were on strike as of midnight on Tuesday, May 2, after failing to reach negotiation agreements “with streamers and studios.”

The guild said it had negotiated for fair contracts over the last six weeks with Netflix, Amazon, Apple, Discovery, Paramount, Sony, NBC Universal, and Disney. As of midnight Tuesday, no agreement had been reached, leading to stoppages in production for shows like Saturday Night Live.

“The companies’ behavior has created a gig economy inside a union workforce, and their immovable stance in this negotiation has betrayed a commitment to further devaluing the profession of writing,” the official WGA statement reads. “From their refusal to guarantee any level of weekly employment in episodic television, to the creation of a day rate’ in comedy variety, to their stonewalling on free work for screenwriters and on AI for all writers, they have closed the door on their labor force and opened the door to writing as an entirely freelance profession. No such deal could ever be contemplated by this membership.”

Video posted by John Washburn shows strikers on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue on Tuesday afternoon. Credit: Josh Washburn via Storyful

Video transcript

[CHANTING]