The SAG-AFTRA and WGA Labor Strike

 

Economic inequality and shrinking income is hitting all sectors of the economy. Corporate avarice has induced a simultaneous Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild American Federation of Television and Radio Artists strike. The writers and actors are not seeing an increase income, when production companies are generating billions. Considering that streaming services are doing well, there is no reason why income should not increase. This is not the first time writers went on strike. The 2007 strike resulted in some Tv programs falling behind in production. The longer this continues films, TV programs, and radio productions could grind to a halt. The only logical solution is to reach an agreement. Labor unions lost much power over the decades. The problem is that many labor unions across various industries or occupations do not have solidarity. A mass strike across the nation in various sectors has the potential to finally challenge the abuses of corporate power. What prevents this is  class division among the workers. The actors and writers would not be traditionally considered working class like miners or railroad workers. Labor unions for law enforcement are designed to act as a protector for corruption and police brutality. The Teachers Union most likely would not come to the aid of a railroad strike. The limitation of  labor strikes in  America relates to the lack of political and class consciousness. The protestors just want some reforms, rather than revolution. It might take a revolution to stop the abuse of corporations and to improve the status of employees.  It was 1980 went actors went on strike against the film and television industry. The only time writers and actors were on strike concurrently was in 1960. What should be learned is from these events is that both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA should collaborate. Doing so allows them to put more pressure on companies to reach a suitable agreement. Labor strikes are going to be more common as long as corporations continue exploit their workers.