Another Opinion on the Strike
Posted by John Hewitt on 1/22/2008 under Writing Business | 
Michael Sieber over at Word Wrangler has written a rebuttal of sorts to my support of the WGA Strike. His points appear to be that corporations make the rules, so if you don’t like it strike out on your own. He also seems to assert that collective bargaining and strikes are an abdication of personal responsibility and that it amounts to whining.
I have absolutely no problem with collective bargaining and I don’t really see why people should give up a negotiating tool when in most cases, corporations hold (almost) all the cards. I know that there are times when unions get too powerful and they ask for (and get) too much. I really don’t think that is the case in the fight between the WGA and the AMPTP. If I did, I wouldn’t support it.
As for people striking out on their own if they don’t like the work situation, not everyone is cut out to run their own business and very few people have the business clout and finances to compete against the major corporations that dominate Hollywood these days. However, collectively, they have the clout to bargain with these corporations, which is why they formed a union. So, while I respect the fact that Sieber doesn’t like or support unions, and I don’t expect to change his mind, his arguments won’t convince me any more than mine will convince him. Sometimes people just disagree.
SnakyPoet (2 comments) said,
Very well said! Not being a USA resident, I have taken less interest than you and others in this particular strike – but you have just stated the case for unionism very well, whilst also acknowledging the potential pitfalls.
In Australia we just tossed out a Federal Government which tried to erode collective bargaining via legislation. We have also seen, in decades past, some cases of unions becoming excessively powerful and abusing their power – but that was exceptional, and was dealt with at the time.
I think the PRINCIPLE is really so important! The collective voices of “little people” can and must be powerful in the face of any kind of tyranny including the corporate. Otherwise there can be no equality between participants in discussions. Which is kinda what Mr Sieber says: the corporations have the power and if you don’t like it, lump it. (No, he didn’t use those exact words.)
I think also of other contexts. The moratorium marches which helped end Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War, the protests against racial segregation of American schools during the Kennedy Presidency, the overthrow of Apartheid in South Africa. A far cry from a Hollywood writers’ strike, perhaps – but it’s the same principle. To overthrow injustice, sometimes banding together is our only recourse.
John Hewitt (751 comments) said,
Snaky,
Thanks for the support. It sounds like Australia is having an interesting time politically.
SnakyPoet (2 comments) said,
Oh, btw, it’s just me - I forgot I’m Rosemary here. (Rosemary Nissen-Wade)
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