Wednesday, July 26, 2023

L.A. County Board Backs Striking Hollywood Workers, Looks to Help Impacted Businesses

Screenshot of LA County Board of Supervisors recent meeting

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors formally threw its support behind striking Hollywood writers and actors Tuesday, voting to send a letter urging studios to return to the bargaining table while also agreeing to explore efforts to support small businesses being impacted by the work stoppages.

“The people who power Los Angeles are on strike and deserve a fair deal,” Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said in a statement after the vote. “Instead of returning to the negotiating table, the (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers’) strategy is to inflict pain, causing people to lose their housing and livelihoods, with the futures of small businesses also on the line.

“While billionaires continue ruthless games, L.A. County will stand in solidarity with the actors, writers, and workers without whom this industry would not exist, and in support of the small businesses that fuel entertainment operations and productions. We can all reduce the impacts of the ongoing entertainment strike by supporting small, local businesses.”

Under a motion introduced by Horvath and Supervisor Hilda Solis, the board will urge the AMPTP to return to the bargaining table with SAG-AFTRA unions and “end this strike by meeting a reasonable agreement.” The board previously approved a similar motion pertaining to the striking Writers Guild of America.

The motion also instructed county officials to assess the overall economic impacts of the dual strikes on employees and contractors “that serve the entertainment industry in the county.”

The board also approved a second motion Tuesday by Horvath and Supervisor Kathryn Barger aimed at supporting small businesses affected by the strikes by “connecting them to programs and services that can keep them in business.” The motion also called on county officials to explore the possibility of creating a “business interruption fund” and pursue state and federal resources that could contribute to such an effort.

“The entertainment industry strike is having a ripple effect on many mom and pop businesses that, through no fault of their own, are having a tough time making ends meet due to an unexpected loss of clients and revenue,” Barger said in a statement. “The pandemic taught us that county resources can be mobilized to effectively help small businesses owners. This is another opportunity for our county to think outside of the box and determine how we can help the small business community.”

At 3 p.m. Monday, the county’s Department of Economic Opportunity will host a webinar for “creative sector” workers and businesses being impacted by the strikes. People can register for the event at bit.ly/strikeresourceswebinar.