With the Writers Guild of America, the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists as well as Unite Here Local 11 all still striking, the Culver City Council returned to the issue of support and voted to approve a statement at the August 28, 2023 meeting.
There have been 53 labor strikes in California so far this year, involving 276,340 participants, or about 10% of total union membership in the state, according to Cornell University’s Labor Action Tracker. That doesn’t include strikes that began in 2022, either.
Action Item 5 was approved on a 4 – 1 vote, the majority of Council voting in favor of a statement supporting union workers’ right to strike, and the historical relevance of unions in the United States. Only council member Goran Eriksson voted against.
The statement approved by the council said “The City Council of the City of Culver City supports union workers’ rights to strike, acknowledging the power imbalance between workers and employers. Throughout America’s history and today, labor unions have fought for and won benefits that have improved the lives of working people, including better wages, safer working conditions, health benefits, and sensible working hours. We urge the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the Writers Guild of America, Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Unite Here Local 11, and hotel operators to quickly resolve the current strikes and come to a mutual understanding and agreement.”
With Kaiser health care workers protesting at the Hollywood facility on Labor Day, the “hot labor summer” could last well into the autumn.
Judith Martin-Straw
