One day after The Hollywood Reporter (THR) published an examination of a private equity giant’s obstinacy about picketing at its studio lot amid the ongoing actors and writers strike, the company has relented, according to a protest leader.
“We have won a huge victory in the battle of Radford because of the article that came out yesterday,” Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike captain Audra Whipple announced on Friday to assembled picketers at the Radford Studio Center in a speech made along Colfax Avenue.
Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA officials have alleged they’d been unfairly relegated by the 55-acre property’s owner, Hackman Capital Partners, to a rear entrance of the facility, along a dangerously busy thoroughfare with no shade in the midst of a heat wave. The former chair of the National Labor Relations Board suggested to THR that the unions might have a substantive case if they filed a grievance with the agency. (They had made veiled legal threats in statements to THR.)
Hackman is not itself party to the strike, although Radford Studio Center’s major production tenants include Paramount/CBS and Apple, which are members of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the association whose failed talks with the guilds has prompted the walkouts.
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“Within an hour of that article coming out, the studio suddenly wanted to get on the phone very urgently, and they wanted to let us know ‘Oh, well, we would love to have you picket on Radford,’” Whipple explained, referring to Radford Avenue, the tree-lined front entrance of the lot. “So, starting on Monday, this picket line will be moving to Radford Avenue. We will have an observer here [on Colfax Avenue] because this will turn into a neutral gate, and we’re gonna finally be picketing in the fucking shade!”
Whipple continued: “We are in the middle of an enormous labor action, a kind of war, if you will — although I’m a pacifist. I want to tell you about one of the battles in this experience. You all know it well. You’ve all been toiling out in this heat for 88 days… You’ve all been suffering near heat stroke for 88 days, you’ve all been standing over here on this tiny sidewalk nearly getting hit by cars for 88 days. You’ve all been in this fucking driveway when cars have come through and not stopped and almost hit us, for 88 days.”
Hackman, whose other major film and television production holdings include Silvercup Studios in Long Island City and Second Line Stages in New Orleans, didn’t explain to THR why it had constrained the picketers to a remote boundary of its lot. The WGA and SAG-AFTRA, which had not formally sent out members due to its safety concerns about the site, had threatened legal action. The firm didn’t immediately respond to THR’s request for comment about its turnabout.
This victory for the writers and actors comes after a long and arduous battle against a private equity giant. The protest and strike at the Radford Studio Center in California gained attention when The Hollywood Reporter published an article highlighting the unfair treatment of the unions by Hackman Capital Partners, the owner of the studio lot.
The unions, Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA, claimed they were unfairly relegated to a rear entrance of the facility, exposing them to dangerous conditions without any shade during a heatwave. The National Labor Relations Board also suggested that the unions could have a case if they filed a grievance. In response to the article and the pressure from the unions, Hackman Capital Partners decided to relent and allow the picketers to move to a more suitable location.
While Hackman Capital Partners is not directly involved in the strike, its major production tenants, Paramount/CBS and Apple, are members of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the association with whom the guilds have been unable to reach a satisfactory agreement. This has led to the ongoing actors and writers strike, which has disrupted the industry.
The quick response from Hackman Capital Partners after the article’s publication suggests that the power of media attention and public pressure can have a significant impact on the outcome of labor disputes. The unions, who have endured extreme conditions and safety concerns for 88 days, finally have the opportunity to picket in a more suitable location with shade and protection from passing vehicles.
The victory at Radford Studio Center represents a small battle won in the larger labor action taking place in the industry. The strike has been characterized as a war, albeit a peaceful one, by Audra Whipple, the WGA strike captain. The picketers have faced numerous challenges and risks during their protest, including heat-related illnesses and near misses with cars. Their perseverance and dedication have paid off with this relocation to a safer and more comfortable picket line.
Although this victory is significant, there is still much work to be done in resolving the overall issues between the guilds and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Hackman Capital Partners’ decision to relent is a step in the right direction, but it is essential for all parties involved to continue negotiations and find a resolution that is fair and satisfactory for everyone.
Hackman Capital Partners, as a major player in the film and television production industry, should also take this opportunity to reflect on its treatment of workers and consider implementing fair and equitable practices. The studios and companies that operate within its properties have a responsibility to ensure the well-being and safety of their employees, including providing suitable working conditions and respecting the rights of unions.
In conclusion, the victory at Radford Studio Center is a significant achievement for the writers and actors on strike. It demonstrates the power of media attention and public pressure in influencing the actions of companies involved in labor disputes. However, there is still a long way to go in resolving the overall issues between the guilds and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. It is crucial for all parties to continue negotiations and work towards a fair and satisfactory resolution that benefits everyone in the industry.
