We're still fighting:' striking actors rallied in New York

23/08/2023

We're still fighting:' striking actors rallied in New YorkHundreds of US enterainment workers rallied in New York in a National Day of Solidarity, continue their strike to shut down Hollywood.

by Agence France-Presse

23-08-2023 06:43

in Entertainment

Actor Jesse Eisenberg, other actors, writers and other union members join SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikers on a picket line in front of HBO/Amazon during the National Union Solidarity Day in New York on August 22, 2023. The SAG-AFTRA walkout, and another strike by film and TV writers that began in May over pay and the threat of artificial intelligence, have brought US film and television production to a halt. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)

Hundreds of US entertainment workers rallied outside the New York headquarters of Amazon and HBO on Tuesday in a National Day of Solidarity with the strike that has shut down Hollywood.

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Waving placards and chanting through megaphones, the demonstrators vowed to continue the industrial action that has brought America's entertainment industry to a standstill since May until their demands are met.

The movement has not stopped, the movement has only grown, said Ezra Knight, president of the New York branch of the actors' union SAG-AFTRA, adding: We're still here, we're still fighting.

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Improve working conditions The Writers Guild of America (WGA) walked out in May, and were joined on the picket lines by the far larger Screen Actors Guild last month.

The twin actions have halted film and TV production and forced a postponement of the Emmy Awards.

The unions are demanding better pay, guarantees to limit the use of artificial intelligence, and other improved working conditions.

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Open to bargain' The WGA announced earlier this month that it was returning to the collective bargaining table after studios requested a meeting to explore ways to end its strike.

ALSO READ | Hollywood actors' union launches industry-wide strike

The WGA said it had accepted a request to meet with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which includes studios like Disney and Netflix.

Actors, writers and other union members join SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikers on a picket line in front of the offices of HBO and Amazon, during the National Union Solidarity Day in New York City on August 22, 2023. The SAG-AFTRA walkout, and another strike by film and TV writers that began in May over pay and the threat of artificial intelligence, have brought US film and television production to a halt. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP) (That) 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, said Knight.

Actress Laura Houha said she hoped to have been back at work by now.

ALSO READ | Woman at the top! Top five wealthiest actors in the world revealed

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, said the 34-year-old.

Agence France-Presse

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