The Writers Guild of America and the Hollywood Studios reached a tentative agreement on Sundays on a new contract. The news came after 146 days of strike after writers walked out in February. The full contract has been released, which includes minimum increases, increased health contributions, and AI regulations.
While the Writers have reached an agreement, SAG-AFTRA remains on strike. However, a recent Gallup poll may indicate why that strike will also likely be successful. The poll found that labor unions enjoy high support among Americans. Gallup found “67% of Americans approving of [unions], similar to the elevated level seen in recent years after more than a decade of rising support. Mirroring this trend, Americans have gradually become more likely than a decade ago to want unions’ influence to strengthen and to believe unions benefit various aspects of business and the economy.”
Specifically, the poll found that 72% of Americans sympathize more with television and film writers than studios. While 19% sided with television and film production studios. Regarding actors, support waned slightly, with sympathy for television and film actors at 67% and 24% siding with the studios. While Americans favored actors less, the trend was still clearly in the actors’ favor.
Public support of unions is essential in labor negotiations. The recent strikes have garnered more public support of unions than unions had in the 2007-2008 writers’ strike. In 2007, 60% of Americans approved of Unions, and in 2008, 59% did. This came before a historic low in 2009 with 48% favor in the aftermath of the Great Recession. The Poll also noted, “The 67% of Americans who approve of labor unions today is down slightly from 71% a year ago but marks the fifth straight year this reading has exceeded its long-term average of 62%.”
These numbers may reach farther than Hollywood strikes as auto workers take to the picket line. Gallup also found three in four Americans also side with the United Auto Workers in their negotiations with U.S. auto companies. 34% of Americans believe unions will become stronger in the coming years compared with 19% five years ago. The sentiment is mirrored in the agreement the W.G.A. has reached. Studios suggested over the summer that they would let the writers go broke before reaching a deal and not bend on specific issues. However, many believe that the contract is more beneficial to the writers than analysts thought possible.
With the agreement, The WGA officially lifted its strike just after midnight Wednesday, allowing a return to work. Late-night talk shows and their writers have been on the forefront, given that the format does not need actors.
Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers and John Oliver issued a joint statement to announce the return of their shows.
In a Wednesday Instagram post, the comedians wrote, “Their mission complete, the founding members of Strike Force 5 will return to their network television shows this Monday 10/2, and one of them to premium cable on 10/1. This is the Strike Force 5 signing off and the Late Night 5 signing back on.”
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