Bob Batz Jr., who has been on strike at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette since October 2022, and Bethany Anne Lind, a SAG-AFTRA actor who has been on strike since July 2023, speak with TRNN Editor-in-Chief Maximillian Alvarez in a worker solidarity livestream.
From logistics and auto manufacturing to higher education, hospitality, and entertainment, workers across industries are fighting back against corporate greed and exploitation, and fighting for the dignity and security they deserve. If we want to see workers win these fights, however, and if we want to see the labor movement grow, then we need to mobilize and sustain support for them.
Links to strike/hardship funds:
– Support Striking Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Workers: https://cwa-union.org/support-striking-pittsburgh-post-gazette-workers
– Emergency Financial Assistance and Disaster Relief Fund for SAG-AFTRA Members: https://sagaftra.foundation/emergencyfinancialassistance/
– Entertainment Community Fund: https://entertainmentcommunity.org/
– Talent Supporting Talent: https://www.talentsupportingtalent.com/
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** (Disclaimer: This video content is intended for educational and informational purposes only) **
If Newsom cared half as much about filming as he says he cares for housing addicts, work would’ve stayed here in CA.
Iger's plan is working. Just a few more months…
She said that 60 years ago the actor strike. Guess who was the leader of that strike Ronald Reagan! And then when he became president he turned his back on all unions! Look at what he did to the air traffic controllers.
Always enjoy the RN videos, thank you!
Actors share your residuals with all on any production, including extras yup
Is national geographic still owned by reupert merdoch?
There's a claim floating around that the Pennsylvania legislature is working on ranked choice voting legislation.
Producers are nothing more than bankers, amongst the most evil of professions. They not the writers or actors are responsable for the absolute garbage tv and movies. Literally only good for spooning with your partner. Mostly.
SOLIDARITY ✊
As an actor (fully employed as so) I find it disingenuous to appeal to emotion. It’s a fallacy in our case. We are not like UPS or Postal workers. We aren’t guaranteed work. In fact, very few are employed in a year. We are not devoid of corporate greed or a need for attention. We, in fact, understand the game in many ways. We all know that this business is fickle and it is AS CORPORATE as any other industry. We are closer to, say aspiring NBA players. A handful will become superstars and often because of who they know, a roomful will make a living, and a couple thousand a year will play in other leagues to get it done. As Howie Long put it, “I knew the NFL was not a career; it was an opportunity.†This business is a risk. We take it. People jump through hoops for a chance and it usually doesn’t work out. That doesn’t, however mean we are either helpless and whiny or destined for the socialistic ideal. We are mostly normal folks trying to make it. She is very right though, many are so trained to be “just happy to be here†that they don’t read contracts thinking about the non-euphoric times. Most people, in fact aren’t “out of work†because they weren’t employed. Many are still working their regular jobs and/or doing theatre.
That being said, striking is a leveraging tool and this woman is absolutely right that scale pay is not keeping up with market value but is reflecting the decrease in product value. SAG striking is an understanding of needing a power shift. We don’t need a higher wage because the execs pay themselves more: I wouldn’t dare allow someone to make the argument that my wage should be reduced because of theirs being reduced. We are asking for an increase of wage that reflects the increase of the cost to live. As for streaming, many of us took jobs hoping streaming would be wildly profitable (mostly based on corporate misinformation) and many realized that there was a disconnect between profitability if the content for the staff and production team involved and profitability of the platform to the service/shareholders. Asking for a fair share is a benefit to ALL workers in that it forces candor that benefits the future of the corporate shareholders and the talent by revealing the shadow games going on behind closed doors.
I HATE not working but I’m fortunate enough to not be starving or put out in a significant way. This business is wildly exclusive AT ITS BEST. But the same way I had to risk it all to get somewhat far is the same way I have to stand with those less well off than me. Actors who want your sympathy are peddling the wares on the street. Not my thing. Your understanding would be greatly appreciated.
IMHO strikes would not exist if all workers Owned the companies they work In. Worker owned cooperative companies. Actual Democracy At Work! You all know how to do your jobs well, just get together to start your own company and Compete with those private companies you work for right now.
My union rep claim to fame is that in 07/08 during the strike he started a recycling business… it’s such a joke, like Al Bundy, and his four touchdowns… we’re being screwed right now and going broke. He recommends start up a business. gas prices are almost 10 times higher then They were in 2007-08 roughly $1.80 to 2.60 gallon back then. Last year I seen prices at $10 while traveling to Northern California…. permits are out the roof and and and. just depressing and these are our leaders we voted in. .