Hollywood workers continue strike as solidarity grows, hold rally in New York
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New York: In a resounding display of unity, hundreds of entertainment workers from the United States congregated outside the headquarters of Amazon and HBO in New York on Tuesday as part of a National Day of Solidarity.
The demonstration served as a powerful reaffirmation of their commitment to the ongoing strike that has effectively halted Hollywood's operations since May. With banners held high and passionate chants resonating through megaphones, the protestors voiced their determination to maintain the industrial action until their demands were addressed.
Ezra Knight, the president of the New York chapter of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), emphasised the movement's unwavering momentum. "The movement has not stopped, the movement has only grown," Knight declared. Underscoring their resolve, he said: "We're still here, we're still fighting," reported AFP.
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) initiated the strike in May, followed by the substantial support of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) last month. These collective efforts have effectively brought film and TV production to a standstill and even led to the postponement of the Emmy Awards.
The striking unions are united in their pursuit of improved working conditions, better compensation, and safeguards against excessive utilisation of artificial intelligence.
Recently, the Writers Guild of America signalled a willingness to resume negotiations, responding to a request from major studios represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), including industry giants Disney and Netflix.
Ezra Knight expressed optimism regarding this development, stating, "It means there may be hope, for us, too, because it means the AMPTP has started to rethink things and come to the table with an idea and a bargain."
Actress Laura Houha expressed her anticipation for a swift resolution. "Hopefully the loud sounds that we're making are being heard by the powers that be and they're seeing that there's more of us than there are of them," the 34-year-old actress remarked. She is hoping that their collective voice would resonate with decision-makers.