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| 1960 Writers Guild of America strike | |||
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| Part of 1960 Hollywood labor disputes | |||
| Date | January 16 – June 12, 1960(4 months, 3 weeks and 6 days, or 148 days) | ||
| Location | United States | ||
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The 1960 Writers Guild of America strike was a labor dispute between the Guild and the Alliance of Television Film Producers. It lasted 148 days, from January 16 to June 12, 1960.[1]
On January 16, 1960, citing “a consistently uncompromising attitude on the part of producers,” WGA president Curtis Kenyon, a former screenwriter now toiling in television, called a “two-pronged” strike against both film and television production. Among the demands: residuals “in perpetuity” and not merely for six reruns; a cut of the profit stream from foreign distribution; and more equitable working practices, particularly concerning speculative, or “spec,” writing. [2]
The strike ended with improved rights and pensions for screenwriters.[1][3][4] One outcome of the strike was that 5% of the net studio earnings from television airings of pre-1960 films would be contributed to pensions, healthcare, and other funds that helped writers.[1]
The 1960 Screen Actors Guild strike also occurred at the same time on March 7, 1960, as part of the broader labor dispute. The actors' strike lasted six weeks, becoming paler when compared to this strike.[5] The two unions would not strike simultaneously for another sixty-three years until the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike and 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike both took place, with the former ultimately tied.[6]
- ^ a b c Schumach, Murray (June 14, 1960). "Record $1,250,000 Paid for Hit". The Miami Herald. p. 33. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
- ^ "The Last Time Actors and Writers Both Went on Strike: How Hollywood Ended the 1960 Crisis". The Hollywood Reporter. July 18, 2023.
- ^ Wilson, Scott (May 4, 2023). "A history of Hollywood writers' strikes". Yahoo Life. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
- ^ "A History of WGA Contract Negotiations and Gains". www.wga.org. Writers Guild of America West. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
- ^ Prudence Flowers (July 20, 2023). "How Ronald Reagan led the 1960 actors' strike – and then became an anti-union president". The Conversation. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
- ^ Kilkenny, Katie (September 26, 2023). "Writers Guild Strike to End Wednesday: Leadership Votes to Conclude Historic Work Stoppage". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 26, 2023.