Sharing Lessons Learned from the 148 day WGA Strike and the 118 day SAG/AFTRA Strike

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Nelson Mandela

On 4/23/24, the USC Gould School of Law hosted a Lunch Panel that not only educated, but inspired students and all. ?Ellen Stutzman and Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the Chief Negotiators involved in the historic Entertainment Industry negotiations in 2023, discussed the hard-won lessons learned from the WGA and SAG/AFTRA strikes.?

The 2023 Entertainment Industry strikes were revolutionary and sparked renewed interest in the power of Unions to protect workers all around the world.

The Panelists:

Ellen Stutzman is the Executive Director of the WGA West and it's chief negotiator.

Stutzman received her MBA from UCLA and her Bachelor of Science in Industrial Relations from Cornell University. ?She began working as a researcher at the WGA about 18 years ago. In February 2023, she was promoted to Chief Negotiator and in November 2023, she was promoted to Executive Director. Stuzman and the WGA West negotiations team were featured in the Vanity Fair Hollywood Issue Nol. 756.

According to the above-referenced Vanity Fair article, "Apparently, it’s not enough that they write the shows that power pop culture. Last year, the WGA had to choose between a strike that few of them could afford and watching their profession go extinct thanks to corporations and AI. The people here (and their 20,000 fellow members) picketed, negotiated, orated, and provided for the most vulnerable among them. It’s more than a guild: It’s a movement." Vanity Fair - Hollywood Issue No. 756. ?

Duncan Crabtree-Ireland is the National Executive Director of SAG/AFTRA and it's chief negotiator.

Crabtree-Ireland thought he "might be a diplomat" and studied international relations at Georgetown, and was on a path to joining the U.S. Foreign Service, but "family considerations put him on a different career track. At the time, the government did not offer full spousal benefits for gay couples" according to a September 2023 Variety article. ? He worked briefly as a prosecutor before being hired in 2000 as a lawyer for SAG and since then he has made history.

?

History in the Making

The 2023 strikes were historical not just because of the length of the dual Guild strikes (WGA strike lasted 148 days and the SAG/AFTRA strike lasted 118 days), but also because they involved the most diverse negotiators in both Guilds' history. For the first time in the history of the WGA West, women were the head negotiators (WGA and AMPTP). It was also the first time in SAG/AFTRA history that SAG/AFTRA President Fran Drescher negotiated with a Heart Shaped Furby as her mascot and brought "female energy" to the table. See: Fran's Instagram link: Rock a red lip and lead with a plush toy in the shape of heart that she calls LOVE.

Key Take Aways

The Growth of Unity and Solidarity on a Global Basis

When asked about some key takeaways from the strike, Stutzman recalled the power of unity and solidarity, not just within the WGA but around the world.

Both negotiators were happy with the solidarity that grew from the strikes, not just from within Hollywood and then entertainment Industry, but from all over the country (e.g. UAW, Teamsters, IATSE and other unions around the Country). Both had received messages from all over the world about how the Strikes had shown others what courage looks like. Both noted how amazing it was to see how Guild members organized to help members through various ways (Bob's Big Boys Meals, Fundraisers etc.).

Was it possible that the isolation effect that the Covid Pandemic left with many help stir the desire and the yearning for people to get come together and get involved on the picket lines and on social media like wind to fire?

Mindset

Crabtree-Ireland explained how one's mindset was key to successful negotiations and that listening to the other side and also being mindful of every single word in every single proposal was important.

Dialogue

Stutzman was disappointed when the Companies refused to negotiate when the WGA went out on strike, but noted that it was good when the Companies finally started listening and engaging in dialogue after many days on the picket line. Crabtree-Ireland stated that it was not helpful when the Companies stated that they would not engage in dialogue when/if the Guild went on strike because keeping the dialogue open and going was imperative to getting the deal done. He also stated that it was helpful to have back channel dialogue with the Companies to reach agreement on various issues.

AI Protections

Crabtree-Ireland was proud of the 16 or so pages SAG/AFTRA was able to negotiate to protect members from AI, and noted that the issue is still evolving, but that both WGA and SAG/AFTRA unions were some of the only entities in the country and the world that had implemented some guard rails and protection for talent.

Social Media and Will The "Hot Labor Summer" turn into A "Hot Labor Decade"?

Both negotiators noted how the rise of social media helped ensure more people could learn about the plight of labor and of working conditions. This in turn has brought a new awakening of the power of the people to help Unions succeed in securing protections and benefits for workers not just in Hollywood, but around the world.

Dealpoints

Various deal points negotiated were also discussed like wage increases, streaming residuals, writing team protections and staffing minimums. Additional terms were also highlighted.