Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer The Writers Guild of America has passed a strike authorization vote with 97.85% voting in favor, giving union leadership the power to call a strike once the contract expires on May 1.
In an email to members, the guild said that 78.79% of eligible members had cast ballots. “These results set a new record for both participation and the percentage of support in a strike authorization vote,” the guild said. “Our membership has spoken.
You have expressed your collective strength, solidarity and the demand for meaningful change in overwhelming numbers. Armed with this demonstration of unity and resolve, we will continue to work at the negotiating table to achieve a fair contract for all writers.” The vote was widely expected and does not make a strike inevitable.
The union has said that the goal was to increase negotiators’ leverage as talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers go down to the wire.
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