Target: Carol Lombardini, President of Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers
Goal: Reach deal with working writers and actors advocating for better compensation and important artificial intelligence protections.
For the first time in over six decades, television and movie actors and writers have gone on strike simultaneously. Because Hollywood is often associated with wealth and privilege, many critics have dismissed these work stoppages as a stunt by out-of-touch elites. But the issues for which these individuals—the massive majority of whom make no more (and often far less) than the average American—are fighting extend well beyond Hollywood.
For one, both groups are concerned they are being fleeced by billionaire executives out of rightfully earned pay. As streaming services have risen, compensation for both writers and actors has dropped dramatically as companies put content on these services (while reaping all the benefits) for years while the people who actually created the content enjoy little to no reward. Benefits, working hours, and base pay have all been slashed, forcing most working actors and writers in the industry to take on multiple side jobs to pay the bills. Meanwhile, TV and movie executives who have consistently voted themselves pay raises are reportedly looking to wait out the strikers and “starve” them into submission. Such concerns about living wages are nothing new, as various workers across multiple platforms have demonstrated. Employees of the United Parcel Service (UPS) may soon strike for similar reasons.
Also at stake are worries about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on future employment: another issue that reaches across multiple job spaces. Both striking guilds want safeguards and protections against unauthorized usage of their images or their words by AI. But instead of working to secure these guarantees, executives are allegedly—in the case of actors—looking to pay performers for one day’s work to copy their likeness, which can then be used and profiteered by executives and studios forevermore. For writers, production companies could essentially replace their work with the output of AI bots.
Sign the petition below to urge these executives to reach a fair and equitable agreement for the many individuals whose livelihoods are at stake.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Ms. Lombardini,
Demonization and mischaracterization are well-worn tactics used by powerful employers to prevent progress for their employees. It seems the SAG-AFTRA and Writers’ Guild strikes are no different in this regard. Your clients and representatives have thrown around words like “disturbing” and “disruptive” to lay the blame at striking workers’ feet. But these individuals are the ones whose lives and livelihoods are being disturbed and disrupted as they stand their ground for fair working conditions, better pay, and key protections against emerging technologies. And in this regard, they are no different from millions of working men and women across America.
In response to a leaked statement about “the endgame is to allow things to drag out until union members start losing their apartments and houses,” one striking worker spoke for many: “we know how to exist without getting paid. The people who don’t know are the studio executives.” Stop the games and set the right example for all workers in this country. Return to the negotiating table in good faith and reach a deal that leaves no one behind.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Fabebk
208 Signatures