2023 Hollywood labor disputes
From May 2 to November 9, 2023, a series of long labor disputes within the film and television industries of the United States took place, mainly focused on the strikes of the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA. It was the second time two Hollywood labor unions were striking simultaneously — the first having occurred in 1960 – and as such, the American news media named this phenomenon the "Hollywood double strike",[6][7][8] and surpassed the 1960 dual strike as well.[9][10] By November 9, 2023, both the Writers Guild and SAG-AFTRA had reached tentative deals with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and ended their strikes.[2]
2023 Hollywood labor disputes
May 2 – November 9, 2023
(6 months and 7 days, or 191 days)
- United States
- Primarily Los Angeles and New York City
- Lack of compensation from streaming services
- Developments in artificial intelligence (AI) threatening job security for screenwriters and actors
- Pay raises for screenwriters and actors
- Safeguarding of jobs against advancements in AI technology
In July, The New York Times predicted that with the actor's union joining, "viewers are likely to notice the effects of the dual walkouts more broadly within the next couple of months".[11] Both labor disputes have caused the largest interruption to the American film and television industries since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.[12][13][14]
On September 24, 2023, WGA suspended picketing upon reaching a tentative agreement.[15] Following a vote, the union leadership voted to end the strike on September 27, 2023, at 12:01 a.m. PDT.[1] On November 8, 2023, SAG-AFTRA reached a tentative agreement and the strike ended on November 9, at 12:01 a.m. PDT.[2]
Primary issues[edit]
The primary issues causing labor disputes between studios and artists in both unions are intellectual property rights, artistic integrity, the lack of residuals from streaming services, and new developments within artificial intelligence and synthetic media technology.[16] The COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant disruption to the film and television industries, with many productions being shut down for months. This led to several layoffs for writers, animators, actors, and other positions in the creative department. These layoffs were exacerbated by the shift to streaming, which has led to a decrease in revenue for traditional media companies, such as television networks and movie studios. As a result, major reductions in the workforce and cancellations of multiple film and television productions were done as a cheap, low-end way to save money on bare-minimum costs, such as basic residuals and music licensing, but Apple and Amazon remain outliers.
Reactions to the strikes[edit]
The Directors Guild of America, the Producers Guild of America, the Actors' Equity Association, UNITE HERE Local 11, the British Actors' Equity Association, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the American Federation of Musicians, Hollywood Basic Crafts, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, the Writers Guild of America, East, the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists, President of the United States Joe Biden, Vermont U.S. senator Bernie Sanders, and Mayor of Los Angeles Karen Bass all issued statements of support after SAG-AFTRA announced their intention to join WGA in striking.[39] Vox stated that the solidarity shown towards the strikers from other Hollywood unions is extraordinary and "remarkable in contrast to the last strike in 2007",[33] while Business Insider noted that the disputes are among a recent trend of a stronger labor movement.[34]