Thoughts on the WGA strike

This video above sums up the Writers Guild of America strike in some pretty simple terms - it's footage of former Saturday Night Live writer and actor Tim Kazurinsky giving his thoughts on the strike.

As a liberal Democrat, I don't fit the typical mold of being pro-union in every single situation, but I do find myself being drawn to that line of thinking more and more. I have some experience on both sides of collective bargaining; I was a member of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) for over 10 years, and I've also worked in management.

However, when it comes to corporate media companies, I trust virtually nothing they say because of one word: GREED. In my view, the WGA strike is nothing different.

From what I've read, the writers are getting screwed by these media companies, big time. In a word - the Internet. Writers of movies and television shows just want a little, small piece of the pie for their work when it's distributed over the Internet, the channel which will be the dominant medium of the 21st century, or at least the first half of it. Right now, the writers get... nothing.

This strike is primarily about two things - union busting and corporate greed. As far as I'm concerned, the Hollywood powers that be would love to see the union go away.

What's more, these companies are being greedy to the nth power, and it's despicable. This reminds me of the record companies, who pushed, pushed and pushed, keeping CD prices at around $18-20 for years, creating a backlash. The result - all of the unpleasantness on the Internet with the record companies, and the theft of music. I don't favor theft, but the record companies brought a whole lot of their problems themselves.

If the Hollywood companies keep screwing the writers, maybe a similar backlash could occur.

What's most outrageous of all is this: According to a recent piece in the LA Times, when Viacom CEO Tom Freston was fired in 2006, he received a $60 million severance package – more than all DVD residuals paid to WGA members that year combined. That certainly puts it into perspective, doesn't it?

A little trip down memory lane...

I sincerely doubt that any significant boycott will take place, but I'm not buying any movies or giving them as presents this year, and I'd encourage everyone else to do the same. A small gesture, but all movements start with one.
h/t to BobHarris.com for the video clips