R11526City Council Meeting: May 9, 2023 Santa Monica, California
RESOLUTION NO. 11526 (CCS)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DECLARING
SUPPORT FOR THE STRIKING WORKERS OF THE WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica is home to many members of the Writers Guild of
America (WGA) and entertainment industry (i.e., actors, screenwriters, visual artists), as well as
entertainment and production companies such as Lionsgate Entertainment, Starz, Hulu, Bad
Robot Productions, and Jerry Bruckheimer Films; and
WHEREAS, on May 1, 2023, the WGA’s current contract with the Alliance of Motion
Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) expired, resulting in the industry’s first strike since
late 2007 and early 2008; and
WHEREAS, while entertainment company profits have remained high and spending on
content has grown, writers report that companies have used the transition to streaming to cut
writer pay and separate writing from production, worsening working conditions for series writers
at all levels; and
WHEREAS, on TV staffs, more writers are working at minimum regardless of experience,
often for fewer weeks, or in mini rooms, while showrunners are left without a writing staff to
complete the season; and WHEREAS, while series budgets have soared over the past decade,
median writer-producer pay has fallen 23% adjusted for inflation, seasons have been shortened,
and residuals have decreased, leading to an increasingly difficult environment for writers to
maintain full employment and support themselves and their families.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
Section 1. The City of Santa Monica supports the striking workers of the Writers Guild of
America and urges the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers to negotiate in good
faith to reach an agreement that respects and fairly meets the needs of the Writers Guild of
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America writers
Section 2. The City of Santa Monica implores the AMPTP to reach an agreement that
provides writers with family-sustaining wages and benefits, job security, and fair working
conditions.
Section 3. The City of Santa Monica further implores the WGA and AMPTP to center their
negotiations on the needs of writers from historically marginalized communities, who are facing
high barriers to entry into the entertainment workforce.
Section 4. The City Council of the City of Santa Monica urges the AMPTP and the WGA
to come to an agreement for the hardworking people who have helped our studios achieve the
financial success they enjoy today.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_________________________
DOUG SLOAN
City Attorney
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Adopted and approved this 9th day of May 2023.
__________________________
Gleam Davis, Mayor
I, Denise Anderson-Warren, City Clerk of the City of Santa Monica, do
hereby certify that Resolution No. 11526 (CCS) was duly adopted at a meeting of
the Santa Monica City Council held on the 9th day of May 2023, by the following
vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Zwick, Brock, de la Torre
Mayor Pro Tem Negrete, Mayor Davis
NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers Parra, Torosis
ATTEST:
_____________________________________
Denise Anderson-Warren, City Clerk
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