The following is a press release from the LA County Board of Supervisors.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today unanimously supported the Writers Guild of America (WGA) in their strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) through a resolution introduced by Supervisors Lindsey P. Horvath and Kathryn Barger. The resolution calls for the fair compensation, consistent assignments, and a working environment that allows writers to create the quality content we all love.
“Who are we as Angelenos without the art of storytelling? Stories shape our culture and identity. The characters in television and movies allow us to imagine, to laugh, to relate, and to dream,” said Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath. “Stories are crafted by the over 11,500 writers represented by the WGA. Today is their 35th day on strike rightly demanding the respect and fair compensation they deserve for the role they play in Los Angeles’ creative economy. The Board of Supervisors unanimously and resolutely supports our writers, and we call on AMPTP to come back to the negotiating table with a fair and equitable contract.”
The changing business model of the entertainment industry, towards streaming services, has led to shorter assignments for writers, leaving many underpaid, overworked, and with less consistent and sustainable careers. Erosion of writer pay and working conditions has happened while studios have collected almost $30 billion in entertainment operating profits each year from 2017 to 2021. Members of the WGA deserve to be fairly compensated and share in the revenue that production studios have enjoyed over the past several years, as well as have assignments that they can consistently depend on.
“This resolution sends a clear message: our Board of Supervisors supports writers and believes they deserve fair pay and stable employment,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “The entertainment industry historically has been the backbone of LA’s economy – it touches many jobs and lives. Undeniably, the industry is evolving and working conditions must evolve, too. As a County leader, I’m proud to do what I can to help the strike end quickly and help people get back to work.”
The resolution is available here.
