Title: National Union Solidarity Day Sees Massive Turnout in NYC as WGA and SAG-AFTRA Strikes Continue
Date: [Insert Date]
As the Writers Guild of America strike reaches Day 113 and the SAG-AFTRA strike enters Day 40, workers from multiple trades came together on Tuesday in New York City to participate in National Union Solidarity Day. The picket line outside the corporate offices of Amazon and HBO saw several hundred marchers, including striking writers, actors, teachers, nurses, truckers, musicians, and retail and hotel workers. Union chiefs promised their unwavering support to the striking actors and writers.
New York State Senator Jessica Ramos lightened the mood at the event when she inadvertently referred to “the past 100 years” of the strike before correcting herself to “100 days.” Her amusing slip drew laughter from the crowd. “It felt like 100 years,” she jokingly clarified before moving on.
Charles Wowkanech, the head of the million-member New Jersey AFL-CIO, addressed SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America picketers, commending them for being the “tip of the spear.” Multiple speakers expressed their criticism of CEO practices within and outside the entertainment industry, often pausing to allow passing Teamsters’ vehicles, adorned in patriotic red, white, and blue, to let out long horn blasts.
Prominent actors such as Jesse Eisenberg, Morena Baccarin, Carla Gugino, and F. Murray Abraham joined the demonstration, which featured union-themed karaoke, solidarity chants accompanied by drum circles, and live music by a brass quintet from the New York Philharmonic.
When asked about the duration of the strike, Eisenberg told Deadline, “Everybody I talk to is obviously in support of the unions and in support of the strike, but everybody has different predictions.” He refrained from sharing his own prediction, but his wife, Anna Strout, expressed their eagerness to return to work once their demands are met.
The picket line also saw the participation of Susan Pourfar, an alumna of the series “Black Mirror” and a theater teacher at Voices of a People’s History, a high school theater project inspired by Howard Zinn’s book, “A People’s History of the United States.” Pourfar emphasized the historical tradition of solidarity among laborers in the face of corporate greed, stating, “I think there’s a great longstanding tradition of solidarity between laborers, especially when we see this kind of corporate greed, and it feels familiar.”
Speakers at the event stressed the unity between workers in the film and television industry and employees in other fields, with Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, stating, “we know an injury to one is an injury to all.” New York AFL-CIO President Vincent Alvarez assured the picketers that workers from all corners of the city were standing in support of their fight.
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander warned studio chiefs last week that the ongoing strike could harm investor confidence. Lander reiterated his concern, speaking on behalf of the trustees of New York State’s $250 billion pension funds, which have investments in large media companies. He emphasized that investors, as well as workers and customers, demand a fair contract to be signed promptly.
The National Union Solidarity Day in New York City showcased the immense support from various trades for the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. With the strike prolonging, the workers remain united in their fight for fair treatment and contracts to ensure a brighter future for all.