The Writers Guild Accuses AMPTP of “Divide and Conquer” Strategy

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has accused the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) of using a “divide and conquer” strategy to end the current month-long strike. The WGA claims that the AMPTP believes it can make a deal with the Directors Guild and force the WGA to accept it, as was the case in the previous strike in 2008. However, the WGA has warned that this strategy will not work this time around.

AMPTP’s Corporate Unity Strategy

The AMPTP was formed in the 1980s when major employers in the industry decided to unite against the decades of gains made by unions. The AMPTP’s corporate unity strategy has been successful in containing labor costs while the companies continue to reap billions in profit. In the last 35 years, there have only been two strikes: the previous strike in 2008 and the current one. During the previous strike, the DGA negotiated its own deal far ahead of its contract expiration, which included some of the goals the writers sought. The WGA hopes to avoid this situation this time around.

Union Solidarity in Hollywood

During the previous strike, relations between the WGA and other unions were strained. While the writers were on the picket lines, the DGA negotiated its own deal far ahead of its contract expiration. In the intervening contract cycles, union solidarity in Hollywood was limited. However, this time around, every union in town has come out in support of the WGA, both during negotiations and after the start of the strike. The DGA has been clear that it is facing a tough and critical negotiation to address its members’ needs. The WGA is standing firm in its position that the companies will have to negotiate with them on their full agenda to resolve the strike.

The WGA has accused the AMPTP of “gas-lighting” union members and telling a “lie” about the breakdown of their contract negotiations on May 1, launching the current strike. The AMPTP’s strategy depends on divided unions, but this year is different. The WGA hopes that union solidarity in Hollywood will prevent a repeat of the previous strike, and that the AMPTP will not be able to use its “divide and conquer” strategy to end the strike.