Disney CEO Bob Iger has said that the writers' and actors' unions have unrealistic expectations with their strikes and are only adding to industry disruptions by taking such action.
Iger made an appearance on CNBC's Squawk Box where he aired his views on the ongoing Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike and the prospect of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) joining them after contract talks ended without a resolution.
"It's very disturbing to me," Iger said. "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."
"There is a level of expectations that [the writers and actors] have that is just not realistic," says $DIS CEO @RobertIger on the @sagaftra and WGA strike. "They are adding to a set of challenges that this business is already facing and that is very disruptive." pic.twitter.com/ySYvfQBYA5
— Squawk Box (@SquawkCNBC) July 13, 2023
"I understand any labour 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," he added. "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. And they are adding to the set of the challenges that this business is already facing that is, quite frankly, very disruptive."
These comments come after SAG-AFTRA announced a vote on a strike order after failing to reach a new contract deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) following four weeks of negotiations. The imminent strike could heavily impact Hollywood, with SAG-AFTRA joining the WGA on the picket lines.
Iger said he respects the right and the desire of the unions to "get as much as they possibly can in compensation for their people." However, he thinks that "being realistic is imperative" in this situation and there needs to be consideration for "the business environment and what this business can deliver.
"It will have a very, very damaging effect on the whole business," he said. "And unfortunately, there's huge collateral damage in the industry to people who are support services. I could go on and on. It will affect the economy, different regions even because of the sheer size of the business. It's a shame. It is really a shame."
The WGA has now been on strike for 73 days since calling for one on May 2, bringing writing duties on film and TV to a halt. Some productions have continued with filming if their scripts were already complete, but a double strike featuring a writers and actors work stoppage would cause a near-total shutdown of the industry.
Iger weighing in on the situation follows the news that Disney is extending his contract as CEO through 2026 after returning to the role in November 2022. He took over from Bob Chapek, having previously served as CEO of The Walt Disney Co. from 2005 to 2020, during which time he oversaw a period of huge expansion.
Image Credit: Lionel Hahn / Contributor via Getty Images
Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.
