“There’s a level of expectation that they have, that is just not realistic.”
On the morning SAG-AFTRA leadership unanimously voted to go on strike, Disney CEO Bob Iger appeared on the CNBC show Squawkbox. Here is what he said about the breakdown in negotiations [emphasis added]:
“It’s very disturbing to me. We’ve talked about disruptive forces on this business and all the challenges we’re facing, the recovery from COVID which is ongoing, it’s not completely back. This is the worst time in the world to add to that disruption. I understand any labor organization’s desire to work on behalf of its members to get the most compensation and be compensated fairly based on the value that they deliver. We managed, as an industry, to negotiate a very good deal with the directors guild that reflects the value that the directors contribute to this great business. We wanted to do the same thing with the writers, and we’d like to do the same thing with the actors. There’s a level of expectation that they have, that is just not realistic. And they are adding to the set of the challenges that this business is already facing that is, quite frankly, very disruptive.”
When is a good time? The film and television business has shifted dramatically over the last decade requiring a major restructuring of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA contracts with the studios, networks, and streaming services. No token increases like the DGA deal. We need substantive changes to save the film and TV business from its own greed and chasing after Wall Street’s approval.
Disturbing? Distruptive? Here are just some of the reactions via social media today.
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Shawn Wines WGA Captain on Twitter: “If you work at a nice restaurant in LA, save this guy’s picture in your phone. Just for fun, you know. https://t.co/Jn3UWqq13T pic.twitter.com/KJGn2flfF9 / Twitter”
If you work at a nice restaurant in LA, save this guy’s picture in your phone. Just for fun, you know. https://t.co/Jn3UWqq13T pic.twitter.com/KJGn2flfF9
April Wolfe on Twitter: “How dare these writers and actors who’ve made me obscenely, criminally rich whether I fuck up or not hold us hostage by asking for a pay rate commensurate with success and a guarantee to not be replaced with plagiarism robots. https://t.co/0q2xUZzqZH / Twitter”
How dare these writers and actors who’ve made me obscenely, criminally rich whether I fuck up or not hold us hostage by asking for a pay rate commensurate with success and a guarantee to not be replaced with plagiarism robots. https://t.co/0q2xUZzqZH
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javier grillo-marxuach on Twitter: “THE WRITERS ARE MAKING IT HARDER FOR ME TO EARN 20+ MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR! THEY ARE UNREASONABLE!!!! https://t.co/azFmFr1Z80 / Twitter”
THE WRITERS ARE MAKING IT HARDER FOR ME TO EARN 20+ MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR! THEY ARE UNREASONABLE!!!! https://t.co/azFmFr1Z80
Carrie Courogen on Twitter: “Bob Iger just gave himself a $5 million a year raise on his $27 million a year contract that he just extended through 2026, which is not realistic and very disturbing to me. https://t.co/3VLN7CsTOj / Twitter”
Bob Iger just gave himself a $5 million a year raise on his $27 million a year contract that he just extended through 2026, which is not realistic and very disturbing to me. https://t.co/3VLN7CsTOj
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JB Tadena on Twitter: “Nah https://t.co/1aRmeOhhFS pic.twitter.com/R5u0ucWR2a / Twitter”
Nah https://t.co/1aRmeOhhFS pic.twitter.com/R5u0ucWR2a
Christopher Miller on Twitter: “There’s never been a single time in US history where workers were so frustrated that they willingly gave up months of being paid and went on strike – for any other reason than because the companies were the ones not being “reasonable.” https://t.co/Sy9HORl8e3 / Twitter”
There’s never been a single time in US history where workers were so frustrated that they willingly gave up months of being paid and went on strike – for any other reason than because the companies were the ones not being “reasonable.” https://t.co/Sy9HORl8e3
Adam Conover on Twitter: “Bob Iger is completely out of touch if he thinks the unions are the ones being unrealistic here. pic.twitter.com/t9XDabMhMZ / Twitter”
Bob Iger is completely out of touch if he thinks the unions are the ones being unrealistic here. pic.twitter.com/t9XDabMhMZ
But clearly THE response of the day was provided by SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher at the press conference today announcing the actors strike.
Disturbing? Hell yeah, the rank and file members of the Hollywood community who actually make the stories which create revenue for the companies are disturbed.
Disruptive? If the suits think the picket lines in L.A. and NYC have been a problem so far, just wait until the actors join up.
That all begins 9AM today: Friday, July 14, 2023. Because for the first time in 63 years, both the writers and actors are officially on strike.
For the latest updates on the strike and news resources, go here.
Disney CEO Bob Iger opens mouth. Inserts foot. was originally published in Go Into The Story on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
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Author: Scott Myers
