AOC Joins SAG-AFTRA and Writers Guild Members on New York Picket Line: A Stand Against Corporate Greed.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made a powerful statement as she joined the picket lines of SAG-AFTRA and Writers Guild of America in New York City on Monday. Her presence encouraged the workers in their fight against what she called “insatiable greed,” explicitly targeting executives like Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav.
While addressing the crowd in front of Netflix offices at Union Square, Ocasio-Cortez emphasized that the fight extended beyond just labor issues; it was also about combating the excessive corporate greed that plagues the industry. She questioned the necessity of CEOs like David Zaslav owning numerous private jets while many struggle to access primary healthcare.
Among the enthusiastic picketers were well-known actors and writers, including Tatiana Maslany, Sandra Bernhard, and F. Murray Abraham. Ocasio-Cortez stood in solidarity with them, joining in on chants like “New York is a union town” and taking selfies with fellow supporters. AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler accompanied her during the event.
The congresswoman referred to the current moment as a “hot labor summer,” drawing parallels between the struggles of actors and writers with those of UPS workers, who were also considering going on strike. She noted that the underlying challenge for all workers was the unequal distribution of wealth and rampant corporate greed in America.
Ocasio-Cortez firmly believed in the effectiveness of direct action to bring about change. She urged the crowd to demonstrate their strength and solidarity, showing that the workers’ collective care for one another would overpower the insatiable desire for more profits from the corporate elite.
Maslany, known for her roles in Broadway’s “Grey House,” Disney+’s “She-Hulk,” and the television series “Orphan Black,” shared her support for fellow actors and writers who were struggling due to low pay rates. Many experienced artists had lost healthcare benefits, and wages had plummeted over the years, leaving them feeling cast aside.
Regarding Disney CEO Bob Iger’s remarks, where he criticized the strike and urged unions to be “realistic,” Maslany dismissed his statements as being entirely out of touch with the reality faced by workers. She stood with writers seeking fair residuals and visual effects workers who aimed to unionize.
Comedian and “Pose” actor Sandra Bernhard joined the picket lines to advocate for other workers facing challenges in the industry. She expressed concern over the glaring income disparity between the cost of living and the meager wages received by some and vowed to use her platform to highlight these issues and bring about change.
Murray Abraham, the star of “White Lotus,” echoed the sentiment of supporting lower-income workers. He stressed that the problem of inequality was not limited to actors and writers but was a pervasive issue across the entire nation. Abraham firmly believed that unions were crucial for preserving the middle class, which upheld democracy in America.
As Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the actors and writers stood united on the picket line, their collective efforts sent a strong message against corporate greed and for fair treatment and better working conditions for all workers in the entertainment industry. Their determination exemplified the power of solidarity and the importance of standing up against injustice.
