Protestors at Boston University Commencement Address Demand Writers Guild of America Receive Fair Wages and Benefits

On Sunday, May 22, 2021, the commencement address at Boston University was met with a protest from scores of students and supporters of the Writers Guild of America. The protest was in response to the ongoing writers strike, which began earlier this month.

The commencement speaker was David Zaslav, President and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery. Outside of Nickerson Field, where the ceremony was held, about 100 protesters chanted “No wages, no pages” and waved signs, accompanied by an inflatable rat. Inside the stadium, some graduates shouted “pay your writers” as Zaslav spoke.

The writers strike began on April 12, 2021, when the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) failed to reach a new collective bargaining agreement. The WGA represents more than 11,500 film and television writers.

The dispute centers around wages, healthcare, and other benefits for writers. The WGA is asking for a 3% increase in minimum pay, and for the AMPTP to cover 100% of the cost of health insurance premiums. The AMPTP has offered a 0.5% increase in minimum pay and a 0.5% increase in employer contributions to health insurance premiums.

The protest at Boston University is just one of many demonstrations that have taken place in support of the writers strike. The strike is ongoing, and the WGA and AMPTP are continuing to negotiate.