Bob Iger Wants Strikes To End “Quickly”; Soft-Talking Disney CEO “Personally Committed” To A Deal As WGA Strike Hit 100 Days

deadline.com:

“It is my fervent hope that we quickly find solutions to the issues that have kept us apart these past few months, “said Bob Iger today of the Writers Guild and actors’ union’s strikes on Disney’s earnings call. “And I am personally committed to achieve this result.” The words and tone of the CEO’s words represent a drastic shift from what he said dismissively about the WGA strike and the looming SAGF-AFTRA strike just a month ago.

Of course, in the company’s 100th anniversary, Wednesday’s earnings results and call come on the same day that the scribe’s 2023 strike breaks the 100 days that the 2007/2008 strike lasted and heads into almost uncharted territory.

At 153 days, the 1988 writers’ strike remains the longest labor action in the WGA’s history, for the time being. “Nothing is more important to this company than its relationships with the creative community …that includes actors, writers, animators, directors and produces,” the talent friendly Iger also stated today. “I have deep respect and appreciation for all those who are vital to the extraordinary creative engine that drives this company and our industry.” Unlike some other studios, Disney offered no break-out of cost savings today that it had accrued due to the strike.

However, Iger did note in Wednesday’s mixed Q3 earnings report that Disney is “on track to exceed our initial goal of $5.5 billion in savings.” One of the few executives still in their top tier job from the last strike, there was a point early in this strike when some saw Iger as a white knight.