UK Unions & Crew Join London Protest Calling For Swift Resolution To Actors Strike

deadline.com:

“It’s like The Hunger Games, the AMPTP thinks they can starve us back to work,” said Bectu National Secretary Spencer MacDonald, as around 200 below-the-line workers gathered in London’s Leicester Square this afternoon to urge a swift end to the actors strike.

MacDonald was bullish, however, in the face of a possible resolution in the coming days, telling studio bosses across the pond: “Every single time, we win these disputes.” “We need to remind employers that by dragging their heels and digging themselves in all they are doing is digging a bigger hole for themselves,” he added. “And we want to talk about the impact on our membership.” Although unions in the UK are forbidden to join foreign strikes by tight labor laws, a recent Bectu survey found that an incredible 80% of UK crew felt they had been impacted by what is happening in the States, and Bectu has been calling for financial support from the government and AMPTP.

Speaking to Deadline after the rally speeches had ended, MacDonald, who was standing in for unwell Bectu Head Philippa Childs, said there is more to come in the longer term. “The SAG resolution is medium term and then there is the longer term plan in terms of making sure people are supported,” he added. “So we will be doing campaigning and lobbying to make sure this doesn’t happen again because we’ve been through it twice – once with Covid-19 and now with the current situation.” MacDonald called on the UK government and producers for more support, adding: “The workers we represent should be better supported because from what we’ve seen they’ve been suspended in a force majeure and abandoned by the productions.” MacDonald spoke to the crowds alongside Bectu officials from costume, extras,