Global unions stand in solidarity with Writers Guild of America

The Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) and fellow global unions stand in solidarity with the Writers Guild of America West and Writers Guild of America East (jointly, WGA) which have been on strike since 2 May. The striking writers are defending their rights to secure their jobs in the entertainment industry amidst pressures of streaming and the threat of generative AI. 

The global unions said that the streaming business model that has generated billions of dollars for global companies has slashed writers’ earnings and worsened their conditions. Meanwhile, the global unions expressed concerns that generative AI poses new threats for writers, who rightly fear that studios will use AI as another tool to erode their intellectual property rights and job security. 

BWI supports the WGA as they negotiate better terms and determine whether workers will share in the benefits of digitalisation, or generative AI will be yet another tool to deepen inequality.

Read the full statement.