The Writers Guild of America West’s staff is on strike. This work stoppage began a month before the writers’ group is set to negotiate with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
The Writers Guild Staff Union (WGSU) announced the strike on Tuesday. Members plan to picket outside the WGA West offices in Los Angeles. The staff union organized last spring and started negotiating a contract with management in September. They accuse management of unfair practices, claiming they have watched workers, fired union supporters, and negotiated without real intentions of agreements.
These claims follow a charge filed with the National Labor Relations Board, which states a member of the organizing committee was fired without proper reasons.
A spokesperson for the WGA West said they respect the right to strike and will continue negotiations. They mentioned offering many protections and improvements to staff conditions. The WGA West believes the allegations of unfair labor practices are not true.
The WGA headquarters will be closed until further notice, cancelling all upcoming events. This is a tough time as they need to negotiate a new contract with Hollywood studios in March, before the current one expires on May 1. The WGAW staff union includes many roles, such as IT workers, researchers, and legal personnel.
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Vocabulary List:
6 words · tap to reveal
OFF
AccentSpeed
Strike/straɪk/noun
A work stoppage initiated by workers in order to gain concessions from their employer.
Picket/ˈpɪk.ɪt/verb
To stand or march outside a place of business to protest or demonstrate.
Accuse/əˈkjuːz/verb
To claim that someone has done something illegal or wrong.
Allegation/ˌæl.əˈɡeɪ.ʃən/noun
A claim or assertion that someone has done something illegal or wrong typically made without proof.
Negotiation/nɪˌɡoʊ.ʃiˈeɪ.ʃən/noun
Discussion aimed at reaching an agreement.
Conditions/kənˈdɪʃ.ənz/noun
The circumstances and factors affecting a situation especially in a work environment.
