SR 05-09-2023 16C
City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: May 9, 2023
Agenda Item: 16.C
1 of 1
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Denise Anderson Warren, City Clerk, Records and Election Services
Department
Subject: Request of Councilmember Torosis, Mayor Davis, and Councilmember Brock
that the City Council adopt the attached Resolution titled, “A Resolution of the
City Council of the City of Santa Monica declaring support for the striking
workers of the Writers Guild of America”.
Prepared By: Denise Anderson Warren, City Clerk
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Writer Reso-Draft_20230509
16.C
Packet Pg. 1675
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
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:
DOUGLAS SLOAN
City Attorney
16.C.a
Packet Pg. 1676 Attachment: Writer Reso-Draft_20230509 (5769 : Support WGA strike)