Writers Strike Hurts All in Business
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: John Kartch
4 JANUARY 2008
202-785-0266
Writers Strike Hurts All in Business
All film related jobs suffer as writers union pushes for unfair advantage
Washington, D.C. — Today, the Alliance for Worker Freedom (AWF), a group dedicated to the protection of worker freedom, condemns the continuous writers’ strike between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers.
The writers’ strike, which began roughly three months ago, has cost not only the motion picture industry in lost revenue, but according to AWF policy director Brian Johnson, is beginning to transverse into the overall investment market. “When any group of organized laborers, fueled by union-bosses who see a decrease in private sector unionization, and growing concerns about collecting dues, compels members to strike, the overall market looses.” Johnson continues adding, “Not only have we seen motion picture stocks plummet, but their parent companies have been hurt as well. This affects the jobs of regular, rank-and-file workers all across America.”
While the writer’s haggle over wages in California, people in the Carolina’s may see a financial impact according to Johnson. General Electric Corporation, owner of NBC Universal, has taken a nine percent hit since the strike began. A hit that Johnson contends, will translate into lost jobs and a continuing decrease in market activity.
“This is proof of what happens when one group of labor has an advantage over another. By allowing the Guild to ‘collectively bargain’, they are virtually holding the corporations and the market hostage to frivolous and outrageous demands.” According to a 2006 study by the Motion Picture Association of America, the average salary for entertainment industry employees is $73,000 – 80 percent higher that the national average. Johnson says that this strike hurts more than the proverbial Hollywood ‘fat-cat’ producers.
“There are around 6,000 carpenters and prop decorators who earn upwards of $50,000 a year, but according to their union, 10 to 15 percent are not regularly employed. This strike hurts the families of all employees who work on set design or any other proxy of the film industry as well as those who are even farther removed from this industry like in the case of General Electric.”
With no end to the writers strike in sight, Johnson says that his group will continue to monitor this issue and urge states to not give preferential treatment to one group of workers over another.
