The Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) staff recently cast an overwhelming vote in favor of authorizing a strike. This significant development occurred just weeks before the guild is scheduled to commence discussions with major studios. The employees, who formed their union last spring, are advocating for enhanced compensation and stronger job security measures within their initial contract. Negotiations with the WGAW leadership have been ongoing since September, with the most recent session taking place on January 17th.
During a break in the discussions, the Writers Guild Staff Union (WGSU) organized a picket outside the WGA West headquarters, demanding “just cause” disciplinary procedures for employees and a “fair deal.” Subsequently, the union’s members, represented by the Pacific Northwest Staff Union, voted to approve a strike in response to alleged unfair labor practices. These accusations include “surface bargaining,” unilateral alterations to existing conditions, “unlawful surveillance,” and retaliatory actions. The union stated on social media, “If management won’t bargain in good faith with us at the table, we will see them on the picket line.” However, a specific strike commencement date was not announced.
The WGSU had previously lodged an unfair labor practices complaint against the WGA West in August, citing the alleged wrongful termination of a member of the organizing committee, an accusation the WGA West denied at the time. A fact sheet from the WGSU outlines a comprehensive set of proposals, including robust grievance procedures, safeguards against artificial intelligence in the workplace, formalized work-from-home policies, sustainable workloads, provisions for extreme weather events, and access to professional development. Critically, the union is also seeking significant pay raises to ensure living wages, noting that 64% of its members earn below the “low income” threshold for a single-person household in Los Angeles County.
In response, the WGA West has refuted all allegations of labor law violations. A spokesperson for the union asserted that they have been engaged in good faith bargaining since September, presenting comprehensive proposals that include numerous union protections and improvements to compensation and benefits. They dismissed claims to the contrary as inaccurate and the allegations of unfair labor practices as meritless. The WGA West emphasized its respect for the staff’s right to collective action and expressed a desire to reach a first contract agreement promptly. The organization also released a detailed four-page comparison of its proposals versus those of the Pacific Northwest Staff Union. This document highlighted that management offered a minimum annual salary of $55,000, while the staff union requested $59,737. Regarding AI, management confirmed no current intention to use it and offered paid training if that changes, though they expressed concern that the staff’s proposal could hinder the use of new technologies for evaluating employee performance.
WGA West employees played a crucial role in the 2023 WGA strike, providing support to thousands of writers who spent months picketing major studios in Los Angeles. The WGA is preparing to resume negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on March 16th, with several weeks of bargaining anticipated before the May 1st contract expiration. In a message to its members, the WGA West communicated its preference for avoiding a staff strike during this critical period but affirmed that the AMPTP negotiations would proceed irrespective of any disruption. The union clarified that executive and managerial staff directly involved with the WGA Negotiating Committee are not part of the PNWSU bargaining unit, and other management personnel would continue core Guild functions to minimize any impact on the membership. The staff union encompasses a diverse range of professions, including attorneys, research analysts, residuals representatives, and software engineers. The Guild’s leadership stated its support for the staff’s right to collective action, while also emphasizing its focus on the impending negotiations to secure funding for health and pension funds, which benefit both writers and Guild staff.