WGA Begins Studio Talks at SAG-AFTRA Headquarters as Its Staff Pickets Outside

The Writers Guild of America began its talks with the major studios on Monday, as its striking staff members picketed outside.

The talks were held at SAG-AFTRA headquarters on Wilshire Boulevard. Shortly before noon, the Writers Guild Staff Union marched a few blocks from WGA West headquarters to set up a picket line. They also brought Scabby the Rat, a giant inflatable mascot, and parked it outside the building.

The WGSU has been on strike for four weeks, and is accusing WGA management of failing to bargain in good faith.

“What’s disgusting?” the demonstrators chanted. “Union busting!”

Building security quickly called the LAPD, which showed up and made sure the picket remained on the public sidewalk and did not stray onto the privately owned plaza.

“We are heartbroken that we have to be doing this because we want the writers to have the best damn contract possible,” said Dylan Holmes, a WGA attorney who co-chairs the staff union bargaining committee. “And we want to be in there helping them, helping our management, instead of picketing them. But we have to do what unions do, and make our voices heard.”

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers has spent the last month talking to SAG-AFTRA at the latter’s headquarters. Those talks broke off on Sunday night without and agreement, and are expected to resume in June.

SAG-AFTRA agreed to host the WGA-AMPTP negotiations as well. The WGSU has said it will picket every day of negotiations, wherever they take place.

In talks with the AMPTP, the WGA is looking to address a massive deficit in its health plan, as well as improve on terms for writers’ minimum wages. The union is also seeking payment for writers whose scripts are used to train AI systems.

The WGA notified its members on Friday that it had made an improved offer to its staff, but that the two sides still did not have an agreement.

WGA negotiators and AMPTP staff were able to make their way into the SAG-AFTRA building, while the WGSU set up picket lines at entrances to the parking garage. Some of the WGSU members were on the lookout for Ellen Stutzman, the WGA’s chief negotiator.

The WGSU has called on Stutzman to personally participate in the talks, saying she did not attend a meeting last week in Burbank.

The WGA has said that it must turn its focus to the AMPTP, leaving a question as to whether the staff strike can be resolved any time soon.

“We can get it done tonight,” said Leila Luperchio, a WGA West organizer, who was picketing outside one of the parking entrances. “We can bargain until midnight into the a.m. hours. And if we get it done, we get it done. We don’t want to be out here. We don’t want to be picketing their negotiations. This is the last thing we wanted to do.”