President Joe Biden has expressed his support for the ongoing actors' strike in Hollywood, according to a statement from White House spokesperson Robyn Patterson. The President believes that all workers, including actors, deserve fair pay and benefits and supports their right to strike. This comes after President Biden previously backed striking members of the Writers Guild of America in May. The actors' strike, called by the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, followed the collapse of negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
The strike has effectively shut down Hollywood, with both writers and actors picketing. The actors are seeking improvements in wages, working conditions, health and pension benefits, and more transparency from streaming services regarding viewership and residual payments. They are also concerned about the use of artificial intelligence in future film and television productions. Similarly, writers are seeking higher compensation and residuals, particularly for streaming shows, as well as new rules requiring a certain number of writers for television shows.
Studios and executives have pushed back against the unions' demands, with Disney CEO Bob Iger stating that he believes their expectations are unrealistic. However, Democratic California lawmakers, including U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla and U.S. Reps. Barbara Lee and Adam Schiff, have expressed their support for the strikes and fair labor compensation.
This is the first tandem strike in the industry since 1960, and its impact on Hollywood is significant. With the support of President Biden and lawmakers, the actors and writers unions have gained attention and are hoping to achieve their goals through negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The outcome of these negotiations will not only affect the future of Hollywood but also set a precedent for labor rights in the entertainment industry.