DSA-LA supports striking WGA members
On May 1st, the collective bargaining agreement between the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) ended. On May 2nd, the workers went on strike. And DSA was ready to go.
Now, in classic Hollywood fashion, let's rewind and flashback to how we got there.
The WGA's negotiating committee began the negotiations "intent on making a fair deal, but the studios’ responses have been wholly insufficient given the existential crisis writers are facing.” While Hollywood might seem glitzy and glamorous, a dream factory is still a factory. Writers in the entertainment industry are asking for fair pay and fair protections in the workplace. The bosses however, have refused to even counter many of their basic demands. The workers had no choice but to strike. As socialists, we stand with workers when they withhold their labor and shut down an industry in order to fight for their rights. They asked for our help and support, and it was time to show them we have their backs.
At 12:30AM DSA-LA steering committee and members help WGA workers on strike shut down a massive on-location movie production in Koreatown, Los Angeles.
Based on interactions and conversations with WGA rank-and-file, DSA-LA and their Hollywood Labor circle prepared a strike solidarity plan. After the success of DSA-LA’s Tacos for Trabajadores campaign during the UTLA and SEIU strike, DSA Los Angeles worked to create an organized plan to support writers when they went on strike. They launched The Snacklist Fund, designed to buy food, drinks, snacks and supplies for workers on the picket lines. Within just a few weeks, the fund has raised over $22,000 from across the country and across the globe. Funds in hand, the chapter worked to develop a plan for how to deliver supplies. This need led to the creation of The Snackpack, a team of volunteers who help distribute and drop off items and supplies to the front lines. Members who work 9-5 jobs might not be able to come out to a full picketing shift, but they were excited to help out before work or during their lunch breaks. Through coordination through WGA strike captains and staff, chapter members have mobilized to every picket line across the city.
Fellow DSA-LA members who are also in unions like United Teachers Los Angeles stand in solidarity with WGA members
That's not all we are doing though—not by a long shot. The chapter worked together to "adopt" picket lines throughout the chapter's five regional branches. We show up and mobilize our members to picket lines at studios like Netflix, Amazon, Universal, and Warner Bros. Often, individuals can feel intimidated joining a picket line if they're not a union member. By showing up together as a chapter, those members felt encouraged and empowered to show up and participate. We've had our elected officials join us and WGA workers marching at the studios. These workers on strike have been excited to see us across Los Angeles. One strike captain sent a text saying, "Please thank DSA again for us — you all kept us going."
The strike isn't over. We'll keep going until the workers get the deal they deserve. And you can contribute too: just click here to donate to the Snacklist Fund.