Hollywood's Writers' Strike

[innerSpaceman]

As "wow" as I am, too ... I continue to strongly support the Writer's Strike and I support their decision to picket the show.

Yeah, um, too bad about the limo drivers and party planners and caterers. They don't have any god-given "right" to a big party night, and nominated talent has no similar right to be lavished with kudos for their work.

What's the point of a strike if you let the big targets have a pass? Cancelling the Globes is Big News (big entertainment news anyway) and the "real" jobs lost in the industry as a whole make a mockery of gigs that will be lost for a single awards night.

Yes, the strike has serious economic impacts. D'uh. That's the point. The collateral damage is regrettable, but can't be avoided for its own sake.

[Disneyphile]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Yes, the strike has serious economic impacts. D'uh. That's the point. The collateral damage is regrettable, but can't be avoided for its own sake.

I don't like it when it affects other people. Just as the drivers, caterers, etc. have no "right" to work, the strikers don't have a "right" to put others out of jobs either.

When I've worked in "unfair" conditions, I've moved on to a different job or company. I didn't try to make an "impact" by forcing my "misfortune" onto others.

To me, it's a very selfish thing to do.

[Strangler Lewis]

Why do you blame the union? Why don't you blame the studios?

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

Why do you blame the union? Why don't you blame the studios?

Because it is easier to blame "The Man" and assume the common working folk are innocent victims.

[BarTopDancer]

If the studios had agreed to look at the 'new media' options and the lack of compensation the writers were getting from it instead of pulling "their too bad so sad what always was will always be" card I doubt we'd be where we are today.

Instead, the studios decided that the writers shouldn't get reasonable compensation for their work that was distributed in 'new media' format (while the studios make profit off of it). So the writers aren't going to work. If the writers all found other jobs no one would be left to write the shows.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Whether you are currently a member of a union or not, we all owe a good portion of the high standard of working conditions in America to the union movement. And while there might have been an argument a decade ago that the movement was approaching irrelevancy, in today's climate of conglomeration and near-monopolization in industry-after-industry, the need for a unified voice of the worker is growing strong again. What good is a "I'll just take another job" philosophy when all other jobs are controlled by the same people who forced you to start looking in the first place?

[BarTopDancer]

Unions aren't inherently evil and strikes aren't inherently selfish. It depends what the union is striking for.

[Alex]

I'm not a fan of unions and would be in the camp of thinking they are mostly an idea whose time has passed.

That said, the union structure of Hollywood is the format in which all of the players have agreed to play and it is the structure in which compensation issues are supposed to be worked out.

And yes, it sucks if other people are financially harmed by my decisions but I don't think it is selfish of me to refuse to work for compensation I consider insufficient. Yes, compared to what the average person makes I am pretty rich. And that would be true even if they refused to give me raises and bonuses for three years running. And the fate of the administrative assistant who might be fired if I were to leave the company would not play a role in my decision on whether to stay or not.

[Disneyphile]

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

So the writers aren't going to work. If the writers all found other jobs no one would be left to write the shows.

Um, there are plenty of non-union writers who are just as good as union ones. That's one of the main reasons I believe it's selfish - I have no problem if someone wants to strike, make their voice heard, or whatever they choose to do. But, if someone comes in to happily work the job they're unhappy with, then those non-union "scabs" should have the same "right" to work, and the union folks have a "right" to strike.

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

What good is a "I'll just take another job" philosophy when all other jobs are controlled by the same people who forced you to start looking in the first place?

I've worked for some wonderful companies - my last corporate job was one of them. We were well paid, enjoyed a nice amount of time off, and our managers were very lenient on scheduling around personal issues. (I only quit because it wasn't exactly my career choice. )

Originally Posted by Alex

And yes, it sucks if other people are financially harmed by my decisions but I don't think it is selfish of me to refuse to work for compensation I consider insufficient.

That is absolutely not selfish. By all means, people should stand up for themselves. They just shouldn't take others down with 'em, like the non-writing staff for the GG Awards.

I know of someone who has edited a show that the union editors striked. She had to work in a "secret" location to avoid harassment and threats from those who were striking. To me, it is the epitome of selfish to say, "I don't like my job, but I will hurt you if you do my job."

[innerSpaceman]

Well, we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one, Disneyphile. Striking is a very important right in this world, maybe now more than ever. And beating the crap out of scabs is an important part of the process.