Statement by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka in support of the Writers Guild of America, East, and Writers Guild of America, West, negotiations:
The AFL-CIO stands in solidarity with the members of Writers Guild of America, East, and Writers Guild of America, West, as they negotiate an industrywide collective bargaining agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, a trade group consisting of the major film and television companies.
The members of the Writers Guilds deserve a fair return on their work at an incredibly profitable time for their industry. The top six companies made $51 billion in profits in 2016. Yet, the average television writer’s pay decreased by 23% over the last two years. Additionally, the writers need their employers to pay their fair share toward Guild-sponsored health benefit plans in order to keep up with the health care cost inflation affecting us all.
Nobody should be asked to sacrifice family-supporting pay and access to quality health care simply to pad the corporate profits that are a result of their hard work. The AFL-CIO urges the AMPTP to come to agreement with the Writers Guilds before their contract’s expiration on May 1.
Contact: Josh Goldstein (202) 637-5018