WGA writer here.
The issues are… complicated. Way too complicated to try and get into it here without my brain exploding – I’m about to embark on a 18h car trip to visit family (that’s 18 hours, one way) and I still haven’t finished packing…
Yes, we applaud the whole “going back so our staff members have jobs” thing… but to many of us, this is hollow as all hell. These hosts make a fortune. Our showrunners, who make a hell of a lot less than they do have been paying their assistants and a bunch of other staffers since the beginning of the strike. They haven’t been saying anything about it - no news stories, no mention of it in interviews, really… they’ve quietly kept them fed, housed and kept their kids in daycare. The “staff” the late night hosts speaks of? They’re industry people, for the most part. These people DO have access to industry funds FOR SITUATIONS LIKE THESE. This whole “we’re going back for the peeeeeoooooppppllllle!” thing? Yeah, ain’t doin’ it for me.
But yes, I understand. People are getting fired. Hell, it happened to us, where I work. Day 5 of the strike. Execs turned around and fired all the assistants. As I’ve said in other threads, it was like hitting the kids and saying “Look what you made me do!” Our show runner and our producers, who are all writers, are paying them out of pocket, so we can rehire them once the strike is over. One of our actors has stepped up and picked up some of the bills, too. If that’s what it takes, that’s what we’re going to do.
WGA Writers who are going back to work, as hosts, and writing their own materials… They are crossing picket lines. To me, there’s no question about it. Some union members are a little more iffy about it.
Damn it, PENCILS DOWN MEANS PENCILS DOWN. If all our showrunners started saying that they were going to go back to writing because our crews needed jobs… where would we be? I mean, isn’t that what the moguls are after? Union breaking. Weakening the ranks by making it necessary for people to come back to work. Dividing loyalties… and then trying to spin it their way in the media. Dudes – they hired the PR firm that handled the Tobacco Companies PR Campaign during the whole “cigarettes will give you cancer!” discovery period…
Just my 2 cents. I’m sick of this strike, I’m sick of not working, and I really really want to get back to work. Unfortunately, it looks like we’re going to be out here for many more weeks. Hope y’all like reality TV.
Elly, your friendly neighborhood Strike Captain, WGAe member
(also AFM Local 30-73 and AFTRA)