SEIU Members Stand With Striking Writers

LOS ANGELES -- As the Writer's Guild of America entered week four of its strike against the media conglomerates of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), SEIU members and leaders continue to support thousands of WGA members.

In late November, SEIU members and leaders from ten locals - public service employees, janitors, nurses, security guards, and home care workers - took to the streets to call for writers to get their fair share of the profits.

Other unions in attendance included SAG, DGA, AFTRA, IATSE, California Nurses Association, CWA, ILWU, NABET, SOULA, CIR, Unite HERE, and United Farm Workers.

The crowd was serenaded by Grammy-winning singer Alicia Keys before marching down Hollywood Boulevard toward Grauman's Chinese Theater, the front line carrying a banner which stretched most of the way across Hollywood Boulevard: “Solidarity with Writers - We're All On The Same Page.”

Said Annelle Grajeda, SEIU 721 President: “Everyone deserves to be compensated fairly for their work, whether they're a County hospital nurse, a city maintenance worker, or a writer for television or film in Hollywood.”

“SEIU members throughout Southern California stand in solidarity with the striking writers as they fight for a fair and just contract. We urge the producers to do what's right – to make sure the writers are justly rewarded for their work.”

SEIU members' support including two roving billboards supporting the Writers' strike. The mobile billboard, paid for by the SEIU, pledged the support of its 1.9 million members - including janitors, nurses, security guards, and home care workers and others - to the WGA. (See the billboard images here.) SEIU's rolling billboard joins two stationary billboards with the same message in Culver City.

“This is about respect and equity,” said Ursula Epps, a registered nurse and SEIU member who spoke at the rally. “When nurses fought for better nurse-to-patient ratios, we stood together and we won". Last week Ursula was featured on Variety's WGA strike blog.