WGA Says Writers Strike Is Reportedly Costing California’s Economy $30 Million A Day

The Writers Guild of America is cautioning studios that a long-term strike is not in their best interests as the writers’ strike enters its third week.

According to Deadline, WGA says the strike is costing the California economy $30 million a day.

The estimate comes from the Milken Institute, which estimated $2.1 billion was lost during the 100-day strike in 2007-08, which comes out to $30M/day in 2023 due to inflation.

WGA’s East VP Lisa Takeuchi Cullen referenced the loss in a letter, saying, “Based on prior estimates, the strike could be costing about $30 million a day in lost studio output. A DAY.”

In another message from the guild’s negotiating committee, studio owners were warned of a lengthy strike and cautioned that “the studios are risking significant continued disruption in the coming weeks and months that would far outweigh the costs of settling.”

According to the WGA, its “proposals on the table at contract expiration on May 1 would cost the industry collectively $429 million per year, approximately $343 million of which is attributable to eight of our largest employers.”

One studio executive, in particular, doesn’t seem to be bothered by the figures, though.

The unidentified executive claimed in a statement received by Deadline that the WGA’s stats “are baseless and just made up to gin up their membership and make for provocative headlines.”