Actors and writers in Hollywood and UPS drivers — all in industries upended by technology — are fighting for better pay and working conditions, and they want consumers to understand what it takes to meet rising expectations for speed and convenience.
UPS teamsters and workers hold a rally, Friday, July 21, 2023, in Atlanta, as a national strike deadline nears. UPS has reached a contract agreement with its 340,000-person strong union Tuesday, July 25, averting a strike that had the potential to disrupt logistics nationwide for businesses and households alike.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated those changes, pushing retailers to shift online and intensifying the streaming competition among entertainment companies. Now, from the picket lines, workers are trying to give consumers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to produce a show that can be binged any time or get dog food delivered to their doorstep with a phone swipe.
“This seems to happen to many places when the tech companies come in. Who are we crushing? It doesn’t matter,” said Danielle Sanchez-Witzel, a screenwriter and showrunner on the negotiating team for the Writers Guild of America, whose members have been on strike since May. Earlier this month, the Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists joined the writers’ union on the picket line.
“Over the past 10 years, we realized: ‘Oh, that’s now how Hollywood works. Everything is streaming,’” Shapiro said during a recent union event. Sanchez-Witzel, co-creator of the recently released Netflix series “Survival of the Thickest,” said television shows traditionally hire robust writing teams for the duration of production. But Netflix refused to allow her to keep her team of five writers past pre-production, forcing round-the-clock work on rewrites with just one other writer.
Along with pay raises and air conditioning, the Teamsters won concessions that Palmerino hopes will ease overwork. UPS agreed to end forced overtime on days off and eliminate a lower-paid category of drivers who work shifts that include weekends, converting them to full-time drivers. Union members have yet to ratify the deal.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Consumer demand for speed and convenience drives labor unrest among workers in Hollywood and at UPSDrastic changes in consumer demands are driving labor unrest in diverse industries upended by technology
Read more »
Consumer demand for speed and convenience drives labor unrest among workers in Hollywood and at UPSDrastic changes in consumer demands are driving labor unrest in diverse industries upended by technology.
Read more »
Consumer demand for speed and convenience drives labor unrest among workers in Hollywood and at UPSWorkers are pushing back against forced overtime, punishing schedules or company reliance on lower-paid part-time or contract forces.
Read more »
Consumer demand for speed and convenience drives labor unrest among workers in Hollywood and at UPSWorkers are pushing back against forced overtime, punishing schedules or company reliance on lower-paid part-time or contract forces.
Read more »
Consumers are demanding speed and convenience. It's driving the labor unrest in Hollywood and at UPSSimilar complaints from workers are pushing a surge in labor unrest. UPS drivers and Hollywood writers and actors say they're expected to do more, with fewer people and less pay due to tech-driven consumer demand for speed and convenience.
Read more »
Customers want instant gratification. Workers say it’s pushing them to the brinkDrastic changes in consumer demands are driving labor unrest in diverse industries upended by technology
Read more »