FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 19, 2023
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Members and workers from the organization joined the picket lines in Burbank on July 19.
BURBANK – In a powerful display of unity, the National Domestic Workers Alliance joined the writers and actors at the picket line at the Warner Brothers Studio in Burbank, California on July 19. Domestic workers and Ai-jen Poo, President of NDWA, joined members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) in solidarity with the workers demanding stronger protections and updated wages that reflect the value of their work. Domestic workers are intimately familiar with the fight to receive the respect and dignity they deserve – proper recognition transcends all industries. NDWA is proud to stand in unity with the actors, writers, and all workers demanding a fair workplace where they have the equitable opportunity to thrive without exploitation.
NDWA released the following statement, extending support to the SAG-AFTRA and the WGA workers advocating for stronger protections and fair wages in the entertainment industry.
“As an organization that believes in the inherent dignity and value of every worker, the National Domestic Workers Alliance stands in solidarity with writers and actors in their fight for fair compensation and protections. Domestic workers – nannies, housecleaners, and home care workers – know too well what it feels like to be taken for granted, undervalued, and unappreciated. Every profession makes invaluable contributions to the tapestry of our society. From domestic workers to writers and actors and logistic workers, all workers deserve fair compensation, safe working environments, and opportunities to pursue their craft without exploitation.
Actors and writers have brought many human stories to life, including the stories of people who have been invisible in our culture, helping to deepen our understanding of humanity. Those stories have brought us characters to love and storylines to remember. Writers and actors have given us the beauty, entertainment, and relief only storytelling can offer, especially in hard times. We applaud members of the WGA and SAG-AFSTRA for their unique contributions to our culture and for the solidarity and courage of their collective action.
At NDWA, we have witnessed firsthand the contributions of writers and actors in uplifting domestic workers. Shows like MAID and The Cleaning Lady, and films like Roma have not only shed light on the often overlooked experiences of domestic workers but sought to bring the stories of working-class women to the forefront and helped humanize essential workers’ experiences.
This historic strike is a powerful reminder that the fight for fair treatment, equitable compensation, and improved working conditions lives in every industry. Domestic workers, intimately familiar with the devaluation of their invaluable work, extend their support to writers and actors in their pursuit of justice. People with economic power often underestimate what we do as workers. And sometimes, as workers, the only way to address it is by showing our power and solidarity. Together, we can create a future where every worker is respected, our rights are protected, and they can thrive in the dignity they deserve.
NDWA urges everyone to join us in solidarity with the writers, actors, and all striking workers. Workers organizing for dignity and respect make the economy more fair and healthy for all of us.”
