Writers Guild Of Canada “Overwhelmingly” Votes To Authorize Strike Action
deadline.comLast year it was strike action in Hollywood, now it’s Canada. The Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) has “overwhelmingly” voted in favor of authorizing strike action if there is no resolution to the ongoing talks with the Canadian Media Producers Association.
Some 96.5% of voted in favour of a strike mandate, with the week-long voting period also marking the highest turnout in WGC history with 70.2% of eligible voters involved. “This strike authorization vote, a first in the Guild’s 33-year history, represents a pivotal moment for Canadian screenwriters,” said WGC Executive Director Victoria Shen. “It underscores our members’ commitment to securing fair compensation and meaningful AI protections in an ever-evolving industry. “While a strong strike mandate does not necessarily mean we will strike, it tells the producers we are ready to defend ourselves if necessary.
We remain committed to negotiating a fair agreement for our members.” In scenes reminiscent of the Writers Guild of America and AMPTP back-and-forth that led to a 148-day strike in U.S., the WGC and CMPA have been negotiating a new deal for months with no resolution.
Information on the talks as been limited due to an agreed media blackout, but it is understood many of the same issues that tore apart Hollywood are the heart of the current issues — think AI, compensation (particularly for animation writers) and minimum participation levels.
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