It should be no great revelation that when Teamsters talk, Hollywood may want to pay close attention.
This is not something that the employers should be getting a break on by any means.
The WGA is seeking to address economic equity, make improvements to working conditions and protect their work.
WGA Picket Signs, Lindsay DoughertyWGA/ Teamsters
We are monitoring negotiations closely.
This is a shared fight and Teamsters do not cross picket lines.
So, were just preparing for what that looks like.
Lets be clear, this will be the WGAs strike, the Teamsters are not on strike.
We are not able to strike during the term of our contract which is still in its cycle.
DEADLINE:With no repercussions?
DOUGHERTY:I honestly dont know where we will be at midnight.
And thats the thing like no one truly knows because theres still time to bargain.
Theres no way of telling, but we have to prepare.
Truthfully, theres also only some amount of preparation you could do.
Its a waiting game for everybody.
And well have to see what happens with the Writers Guild.
DOUGHERTY:Its absolute bullshit is what I think.
They were late to the game in streaming.
And were seeing that now obviously theyre definitely making profits.
At this point, I think all of the unions and guilds have heard the argument.
We dont have enough money and its the same thing that we hear from all employers.
DOUGHERTY:Well, theres a lot of trying to c’mon Wall Street, isnt there?
So, thats not going to cut in for any of us that especially for the Teamsters.
DOUGHERTY:Things are a lot different than 2007.
So, I think theres that.
Along with Comcast and other, these are multi trillion-dollar corporations that obviously have other industries.
Now they are making decisions in the room with the AMPTP.
Thats a big difference as well.
And I think thats what youre seeing with the writers.
This is not something that the employers should be getting a break on by any means.
DEADLINE:And for your members?
Its not just the writers.
Its also my Teamster members, too that cant afford a home in Southern California.
DEADLINE: So, as a Hollywood labor leader, looking over that landscape, what do you do?
I mean the DGAs deal with the studios back in 2008 is what helped hobble the writers strike then.
Because really, its about our memberships as a whole in this industry.
If anyone has a fight with the employers, it inherently becomes all of our fights.
So, its due time that we stick together and move forward in a more powerful way.
And I think thats how we have to move forward.
