Folks,
Greetings from the Burgh, where I have not been feeling so great, and I am sending a shortened newsletter today.
$275 Due on Healthcare Premiums This Month
Speaking of healthcare issues, I still owe my health insurer $275 for this month’s premiums. As someone who sufferers from Long Covid, days like today, are why I have to spend so much extra for inhalers & healthcare premiums
Donate to help me pay off the healthcare premium. Please, if you can, sign up as one of our 751 recurring donors today.
Writers Guild Cancels NYC Picket Lines over Air Quality Issues
Today, the Writers Guild canceled picket lines in NYC over air quality issues.
“Our union’s strength lies in our solidarity, and we look forward to a future where this spirit of unity among creative professionals continues, not just throughout the negotiation process but in the years ahead,” the Writers’ Guild of America East wrote in a Twitter post.
160,000 SAG-AFTRA Members Vote to Strike w/ 97% in Favor
Yesterday, SAG-AFTRA announced that 97% of its 160,000 members employed in TV & Film productions have voted to authorize a strike. Their contract is expiring on June 30th.
If SAG-AFTRA chooses to strike alongside the 11,000 members of the Writers’ Guild, it could add additional pressure in settling a first contract.
“Our union’s strength lies in our solidarity, and we look forward to a future where this spirit of unity among creative professionals continues, not just throughout the negotiation process but in the years ahead,” said SAG-AFTRA President Fran Dresher in a statement.
Fund Launched to Support Film Assistants Hurt by Strike
Finally, a fund has been launched to support the many film assistants not covered by the strike but who have been affected by filming being shut down. The fund launched with the support of the Entertainment Community Fund will exist to help assistants even after the strike is over.
“Support staffs are indispensable, yet they’re undervalued and underpaid. These workers are the most heavily impacted when unexpected events shut down the entertainment industry”, WGA West board member Liz Hsiao Lan Alper told Deadline. “Making the Hollywood Support Staff Relief Fund a permanent emergency fund gives these workers a much-needed resource that wasn’t available before.”
Alright, yinz, that’s all for today. Keep sending emails, story ideas, and comments to melk@paydayreport.com
Donate to help us cover the “Summer of Strikes.” Please, if you can, sign up as one of our 751 recurring donors today.
See yinz tomorrow,
Melk
