Day 91 of the Writers’ Strike

A few, hopefully harmless observations.

Happy day 91 of the 2023 writers’ strike.

91 isn’t a number that holds any particular significance. (Unless you are a Twins fan or believe that Nirvana’s Nevermind saved Rock for the 4th time. But that might be another mini-essay for another mini-time.)

But 91 days is arguably enough of a sample size to see certain patterns or conclusions emerge.

So here are a couple, hopefully harmless observations about the strike thus far. And no, I have no definitive opinions on whether Hokas are must- purchases or which lots have the best acoustics for strike karaoke.

1. This is a strike that represents the full and true rank and file of the guild. Not one segment of the union imposing it on another.

One of the prevailing myths about the 2007 WGA strike, that was circulated contemporaneously to that walkout, was that it was foisted upon the whole union by older, out of workers with nothing to lose themselves by ceasing work for everyone.

I have serious doubts about the truth of that assertion. Far more likely, it was a canard promulgated by the AMPTP to divide the troops and weaken resolve.

In any case, it was something that people who sought to undermine the validity of the cause would casually drop into anti-WGA conversations.

My hunch is, that wasn’t the first time that particular myth was trotted out by the other side.

While I can’t speak to its complete verity or lack of it in the past, I can say with absolute moral certainty that it isn’t the case in 2023.

Which isn’t to say that older writers aren’t properly and proportionately represented on the strike lines.

But this isn’t a labor action being foisted upon anyone.

You can see it in the near unanimity of the strike authorization vote.

And you can see it, empirically, on the picket lines themselves.

Maybe it’s just that I feel exponentially older than I did in ‘07, but this strike feels far more demographically diverse in terms of age, race, experience, gender, and orientation than anything I’ve previously witnessed.

This is not a strike imposed on the guild at large by alter cockers at Nate n’ Al’s. Though it occasionally makes me wish I could currently afford Nate n’ Al’s pastrami New Yorker with extra Russian dressing. Which could begin to explain how it’s possible to picket 15,000 steps a day in 400 degree Burbank heat and still gain weight.

But back to my actual point. This is a strike that fully represents the will of the guild membership.

This feels way less like a top-down action and totally like a bottom-up one.

It is fueled and energized by the guild as it currently is, striking to make the writing profession what it once again should be.

2. The other massive difference between 2007 and 2023 is the seeming ineffectiveness of trying to pit one guild against another by the AMPTP. Or that tactic’s close cousin, seeking to guilt the WGA into folding by maligning the guild in press interviews, off the record denunciations or social media posts.

Surely, the shotgun alliance between legacy studios and tech behemoths would’ve vastly preferred SAG-AFTRA to have accepted their offer and thus leave the writers stranded alone on their easy-to-belittle island of perceived injustice.

First, the actors didn’t take that bait. Their fears regarding AI and just compensation are just as profound and existential as those of the writers.

Second, it seems that even if the actors had settled, it wouldn’t have significantly impacted the will and resolve of the striking writers.

Whereas, the AMPTP could previously count on their anachronistic playbook, where the WGA is isolated and guilted into accepting a deal patterned after other guilds—usually the DGA.

But there is little indication that those tactics can or will work this go-around.

The threats to writing as a viable profession are too existential. And the issues facing writers are significantly more specific to the WGA and not as easily patterned as in previous strike cycles.

The old studio methods aren’t working in the steaming era. In the past, a stinging rebuke of writers by a so-called industry wise man like Bob Iger might once have seeded some doubt—at least enough to carve away a faction that were already harboring concerns the strike has gone long enough.

This time, I’m not hearing internal dissent or seeing the previous factionalism.

The Iger interview, given from a billionaire’s conference in Sun Valley while he’s remodeling his yacht, proved to be entirely counterproductive.

In fact, his ill-conceived interview is still cited as a union rallying cry two weeks later. A symbol that the industry titans are becoming increasingly tone deaf at reading the industry and public moods.

Sure I could be wrong about all of this. Admittedly, I’ve only been in the guild for 27 years. But from I’ve been able to observe, I’ve never seen this union more unified, more certain, more willing to continue as long as needed to guarantee a just outcome.

Sure it’s possible that I’ve become that ancient grey beard writer who people used to blame all strikes on. And that my views are skewed by old age, sun stroke and pastrami cravings.

It’s possible. But it’s not true. This is a strike forced on us by the companies- I’m not imagining that. And our cause is just, our course of action necessary. I’m really not imagining that. And knowing all of this, I have zero doubt that we will stay out here, sunscreened, hydrated, and hopped up on donuts, as long as needed to save the business from itself.