Pete Davidson’s ‘SNL’ episode scrapped amid writers strike

nypost.com:

voted unanimously to call for a strike — Hollywood’s first in 15 years — claiming that writers have faced difficulties securing steady jobs.“The companies’ behavior has created a gig economy inside a union workforce, and their immovable stance in this negotiation has betrayed a commitment to further devaluing the profession of writing,” a statement from the labor union reads.“From their refusal to guarantee any level of weekly employment in episodic television, to the creation of a ‘day rate’ in comedy variety, to their stonewalling on free work for screenwriters and on AI for all writers, they have closed the door on their labor force and opened the door to writing as an entirely freelance profession.”In light of the major transformations within the industry — such as the rise of streaming — WGA argues that workers’ compensation needs to reflect such changes.But the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, who sit opposite the strike, claims it gave writers “generous increases in compensation” and “improvements in streaming residuals.”The alliance, which acts as a bargaining representative, said it was previously willing to improve the offer, “but was unwilling to do so because the magnitude of other proposals still on the table that the guild continues to insist upon.”In addition to fair wages, the union is attempting to negotiate stricter regulations on the use of AI amid fears of the advanced technology decimating jobs.Hollywood writers last went on strike in 2007, an action that lasted 100 days.

It is unclear how long the current strike will last.On Friday’s episode of “Late Night With Seth Meyers,” the talk show host, who is also a member of WGA, voiced his support for the union’s demands, but cautioned.