As temperatures continue to rise and create hazardous conditions for writers and actors on strike, an investigation is underway to determine if a Hollywood studio used shady tactics to retaliate against picketers. On social media, writers and actors have brought attention to the sudden trimming of trees along a sidewalk outside Universal Studios and NBCUniversal’s lot, which previously provided shade to picketers. City Controller Kenneth Mejia has launched an investigation into the matter and shared before and after photos highlighting the significant decrease in shade availability since the trees were trimmed.
NBCUniversal claims that the tree trimming is an annual occurrence during the summer to prepare for the high wind season but acknowledges the unintended challenges it has posed for demonstrators. The company is working with licensed arborists to provide some shade coverage and assures their support for the rights of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA to picket. Mejia, however, has discovered that NBCUniversal may have improperly trimmed the trees without the necessary permits from the city’s Bureau of Street Services.
As a result, city agencies are now considering whether to issue an administrative citation or hold a hearing, with possible fines starting at $250. NBCUniversal has not yet commented on Mejia’s findings. Meanwhile, the WGA and SAG-AFTRA have filed grievances with the National Labor Relations Board, accusing the studio of obstructing picketers through “illegal conduct.” They assert that extensive construction at Universal Studios has compromised pedestrian areas and put union members at risk. The unions have documented unsafe incidents, including picketers being struck by a car, and are urging NBCUniversal to create a dedicated pedestrian lane.
In response, NBCUniversal has expressed its cooperation with the NLRB and local authorities and acknowledges the challenges created by their ongoing construction project. The studio is working with public agencies to improve access for demonstrators.
Since May 2, over 11,500 film and TV writers have been on strike, followed by 160,000 actors last week. Both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA are advocating for fair pay and working conditions in light of studio and streaming companies’ immense profits and executive salaries. They are also concerned about the impact of technological advancements, such as artificial intelligence, on the livelihoods of entertainment industry workers.
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