Labor Is Rising”: Hundreds Of Union Workers Gather In Solidarity With WGA At Los Angeles Rally
27.05.2023 - 02:55
/ deadline.com
The Writers Guild of America West received the most robust support from their sister unions in Los Angeles at the “Unions Strike Back” Rally on Friday evening.
In solidarity with WGAw President Meredith Stiehm stood Hollywood Teamsters Local 399 secretary-treasurer and chief negotiator, Lindsay Dougherty; SAG-AFTRA national executive director and chief negotiator, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland; UTLA President, Cecily Myart-Cruz; Kurt Petersen, Co-President of UNITE HERE Local 11; and California Federation of Labor AFL-CIO Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Lorena Gonzalez, among others.
In front of hundreds of union workers, Stiehm gave an impassioned speech as the WGA closed out its 24th day striking against the AMPTP who have yet to agree to meet at the negotiating table.
“We are here because we are union, just like everyone else here, and we are on strike. This is day 24. We’ve been on the picket lines fighting for a fair contract. But, we have not walked alone,” Stiehm said as four new helicopters flew above the platform. “We’ve seen you out on the line, SAG-AFTRA. We’ve seen you IATSE. We’ve seen you, Teamsters. Trucks are pulling up to our picket lines, and they are turning around, and they are shutting down production every single day.”
Stiehm spoke of the solidarity between the sister unions, many of who have joined her and the WGA on the picket lines held daily at the various studios across Los Angeles. She showed her gratitude for IATSE and the teamsters who have not crossed the picket lines at the studios nor in front of movies and TV shows currently in production all over the United States.
“Something is happening out there. Something new. Labor is rising. We have your support because other unions and other workers