Lindsay Dougherty on the Next Big Labor Battle
On May 3, the second day of the writers strike, all the leaders of Hollywood’s unions showed up in solidarity to a WGA member meeting at the Shrine Auditorium. Historically, Hollywood labor hasn’t been as united. With contract fights, we all have spoken to one another, but not as much as we should have. In 2023, that changed. We’ve seen with the dual strikes throughout this summer that if we stick together, we’re stronger. The Hollywood Teamsters are getting ready for bargaining next year, as are IATSE and unions that are part of Hollywood Basic Crafts and include IBEW Local 40, LIUNA! Local 724, OPCMIA Local 755 and UA Local 78. And we’re all talking.
When it comes to the upcoming negotiations, we’re looking to change the livelihoods of our members in a bigger way. There are a lot of issues that we’ve been trying to tackle for years. A major focus for us in next year’s bargaining will be finding a reasonable and profitable streaming residual structure that protects and grows our pension and health plan to fight for better benefits for members. We also have to make certain that our members are making sufficient wages to survive in areas where mortgages are high, like Southern California and New York City. The typical 3 percent increase will not be enough.
I think many workers are frustrated that these companies that they’ve worked for for years, if not decades or even generations, have no problem putting the writers on strike for five months — which also impacts the other unions. These companies know that IATSE, the Teamsters and Hollywood Basic Crafts are hurting the most because they depend on hourly wages. So I think there’s a lot of disdain for these companies because they don’t have any loyalty to their workforce. The power dynamic has been off-balance for decades, mostly in favor of the employers. But a strike can show you the power of the workers.
Our members are paying attention. And as labor leaders, we all should be extremely transparent about what we’re asking for and involve members in the process every step of the way. There also must be some militancy, because this is a fight. It’s never not a fight in the labor movement. We’re up against employers that will continue to either violate our contracts or get away with whatever they can and work our members to the bone with less compensation. We have not seen them do anything other than that.
Could more Hollywood unions go out on strike next year if employers are not willing to give a fair deal? That’s up to the employers. Clearly they have miscalculated this entire bargaining cycle. The work stoppages never should have happened; they didn’t have to happen. And I think, hopefully, the companies learn a lesson and try to be more productive and proactive next year when it’s our turn to keep Hollywood moving, while also addressing the changing nature of the business and what workers need to make a living in this industry.
Lindsay Dougherty is director of the Teamsters’ Motion Picture Division and vp of its Western Region.
