Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA actors’ union have filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Comcast’s NBCUniversal. The unions accuse NBCUniversal of obstructing a picket area and endangering their members.
According to the unions, NBCUniversal violated their freedom to picket by obstructing a public sidewalk near the company’s studio lot in California with an ongoing construction project. The WGA’s complaint states that the company “forced picketers to patrol in busy streets with significant car traffic where two picketers have already been struck by a car.”
SAG-AFTRA also claims that their members have been forced to picket in an unsafe and crowded location, which worsens the public safety situation. They argue that this interferes with their right to engage in protected picketing and patrolling during a lawful strike.
This complaint comes as Hollywood actors join film and television writers on picket lines for the first time in 63 years. The industry is demanding higher pay for the streaming era and limitations on the use of artificial intelligence.
In response to the accusation, NBCUniversal has expressed support for the unions’ rights to demonstrate safely. The company acknowledges the challenges created by their multi-year construction project and states that they are working with public agencies to increase access for demonstrators.
An NBCUniversal spokesperson has stated that they believe the company has fulfilled its legal obligations under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and will cooperate with any inquiries by the NLRB.
Both unions have requested that the NLRB order NBCUniversal to address the situation and restore their right to picket safely.
The outcome of this dispute will have significant implications for labor relations in the entertainment industry. As the strike continues, it remains to be seen how negotiations will progress and whether a resolution can be reached between the unions and NBCUniversal.
Reporting by Mrinmay Dey, Baranjot Kaur, Juby Babu in Bengaluru, and Lisa Richwine in Los Angeles; Additional reporting by Shubhendu Deshmukh; Editing by Leslie Adler and Jamie Freed