Date: June 15, 2023
Members of guilds and unions from the International Affiliation of Writers Guilds (IAWG) came together for Screenwriters Everywhere, a global day of solidarity and action in support of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) East and WGA West who have been on strike since May 2, 2023.
The strike, which began after failed negotiations between the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), has significantly impacted the American television and film industry.
Screenwriters Everywhere, scheduled for June 14, 2023, saw sister guilds and unions from around the world organising pickets to demonstrate their support for the WGA strike. The event aimed to raise awareness of the ongoing labor dispute and the importance of fair compensation and working conditions for writers in the entertainment industry.
The WGA strike has primarily focused on issues such as residuals from streaming media, the use of artificial intelligence in scriptwriting, and the establishment of minimum staffing requirements and employment durations for writers. The WGA has estimated that their proposals would yield writers about $429 million a year, while the AMPTP's offer would yield only $86 million.
In response to the strike, several international writers' guilds have expressed their support and solidarity. The Writers' Guild of Great Britain (WGGB), for example, has instructed its members to refrain from working on American projects during the strike. Other guilds, such as the Australian Writers' Guild, Writers Guild of Canada, Screenwriters Guild of Israel, the Writers Guild of Ireland, and the Writers Guild of Sweden, have followed suit.
The Federation of Screenwriters in Europe (FSE) stands in solidarity with the Writers in America. It organised events in 35 countries, ranging from pickets of local Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) member offices and rallies, to membership discussions and social media campaigns.
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