Disney CEO Says Striking Writers And Actors Have Unrealistic Expectations

gamespot.com:

With actors about to go on an official strike--and writers already months into their own--Disney CEO Bob Iger had some choice words for those unions during a CNBC Squawk Box segment. He basically said both unions are unrealistic about their expectations in contract negotiations with studios.

Variety reports Iger was in Idaho when he chatted with David Faber on CNBC. Speaking about the possibility that Hollywood actors will strike for the first time since 1980, Iger said: «It's very disturbing to me. We've talked about disruptive forces on this business and all the challenges we're facing, the recovery from COVID which is ongoing, it's not completely back. This is the worst time in the world to add to that disruption.

»I understand any labor organization's desire to work on behalf of its members to get the most compensation and be compensated fairly based on the value that they deliver. We managed, as an industry, to negotiate a very good deal with the directors guild that reflects the value that the directors contribute to this great business. We wanted to do the same thing with the writers, and we'd like to do the same thing with the actors. There's a level of expectation that they have, that is just not realistic."

The Writers Guild of America officially went on strike in May, and it's already affecting TV shows and films. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, also known as SAG-AFTRA, is fully expected to go on strike today after negotiations broke down with The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, also known as AMPTP. This would mark the first time since 1960 that both unions are on strike together.

“you have to be realistic about this business environment”