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☆ Actors are poised to go on strike against studios and streaming services
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The actors could be on strike themselves without a last-minute deal with studios and streaming services on Wednesday. Production of many movies and television shows have already been shut down by the current writers strike. An actors strike would bring most remaining productions to a halt, other than on some independent films not associated with studios. This would be the first actors strike against television shows and movie productions since 1980. Just before the last deadline, it seemed as if an actors strike could be avoided.

Persons: haven’t, ”, Robyn Beck, It’s, Tom Nunan, Jonathan Handel, Handel, “, it’s, Blockbuster hadn’t, David Mumpower, Fran Drescher, —, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Jennifer Lawrence, Bob Odenkirk, Mark Ruffalo, Quinta Brunson, Rami Malek, you’ve, Theron, Joaquin Phoenix, Jamie Lee Curtis, Cobie Smulders, Pedro Pascal, Drescher, –, Vanessa Yurkevich Organizations: New, New York CNN, Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Alliance, Motion Pictures, Television Producers, Apple, CBS, Disney, NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony, CNN, Warner Bros ., Federal Mediation, Conciliation Service, SAG, UCLA School of Theater, Film, Television, Writers Guild of America, Blockbuster, AMPTP, Gabbana’s Locations: New York, AFP, Moda, Southern Italy

“We will not be distracted from negotiating in good faith to secure a fair and just deal by the expiration of our agreement,” said the statement from SAG-AFTRA, the actors union. If they go on strike, they will be joining more than 11,000 members of the Writers Guild of America on picket lines against major studios and streaming services. The writers have been on strike for more than two months. SAG-AFTRA said that news reports were published about management’s desire for mediation even before the request was made of union negotiators at the bargaining table. “The AMPTP has abused our trust and damaged the respect we have for them in this process,” said the union’s statement.

Persons: ”, AFTRA Organizations: New, New York CNN, SAG, Writers Guild of America, Alliance of Motion Pictures, Television Producers, Apple, CBS, Disney, NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony, CNN, Warner Bros . Discovery Locations: New York

☆ UAW head says it’s prepared to strike against Big Three automakers as negotiations start Thursday
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Vanessa Yurkevich | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Ahead of contract negotiations set to begin Thursday, the head of the United Auto Workers union says they are declared that it’s prepared to strike against the Big Three US automakers. In a Facebook address to UAW members Tuesday, UAW President Shawn Fain said nearly 150,000 members will strike if Ford, Stellantis and General Motors do not meet their demands. And whether or not there’s a strike — it’s up to Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis, because they know what our priorities are. The UAW opens auto contract negotiations with Stellantis today, Ford on July 14, and General Motors on July 18. The last auto workers strike was in 2019, when 48,000 UAW members at General Motors walked off the job for six weeks.

Persons: it’s, Shawn Fain, Ford, We’ve, ”, Fain, Stellantis, we’re, Bill Pugliano, Jim Farley, Gerald Johnson, “, “ They’ve Organizations: New, New York CNN, United Auto Workers, Big Three, UAW, General, General Motors, Motors, Sterling Heights Assembly, Ford Locations: New York, Sterling Heights, Sterling Heights , Michigan, Stellantis

New York CNN —A marathon negotiating session between UPS and the Teamsters union ended early Wednesday morning with both sides accusing the other of walking away from the table. The current contract expires July 31, which means 340,000 UPS workers could go on strike August 1. Many in the shipping community had been looking for a deal between UPS and the teamsters by the end of the July 4 holiday weekend, he said. Amazon also has its own delivery service now. Neither side has publicly detailed the economic offer that UPS made or what the Teamsters are demanding.

Persons: Satish Jindel, ”, ” Jindel, —, Sean O’Brien, “, ” What’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, UPS, Teamsters, US Postal Service, nonunion FedEx, teamsters, FedEx, Postal Service Locations: New York, ”

CNN —A federal judge on Tuesday ordered some Biden administration agencies and top officials not to communicate with social media companies about certain content, handing a win to GOP states in a lawsuit accusing the government of going too far in its effort to combat Covid-19 disinformation. In a preliminary injunction issued by US District Judge Terry Doughty, the judge ordered a slew of federal agencies and more than a dozen top officials not to communicate with social media companies about taking down “content containing protected free speech” that’s posted on the platforms. The injunction notes that the government can still communicate with the companies as part of efforts to curb illegal activity and address national security threats. The lawsuit brought by the Missouri and Louisiana attorneys general in 2022 represents a novel way to pursue “censorship” claims accusing the Biden administration of effectively silencing conservatives by leaning on the private social media companies. The judge had previously ordered the administration to produce documents identifying government officials and the nature of their communications with social media platforms.

Persons: Terry Doughty, ” that’s, Vivek Murthy, Karine Jean, Pierre, Doughty, ” Doughty, Donald Trump, Meta, Biden, Doughty hasn’t, ’ Organizations: CNN, Biden, GOP, US District, Department of Health, Human Services, National Institute of Allergy, US Centers for Disease Control, Justice Department, FBI, White House Press, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, White, Google Locations: Missouri, Louisiana

☆ Workers at key Boeing supplier vote to end strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Spirit AeroSystems, a key supplier to Boeing, is set to reopen next week after members of the International Association of Machinists voted Thursday to ratify a tentative labor agreement and end a week-long strike. Members voted 63% in favor of the four-year agreement, according to vote results announced Thursday. It’s the first new contract that the union members at Spirit have had in 13 years. The union had put the company’s previous offer up to a vote earlier this month. But rank and file members rejected that offer with 79% of members voting no, and 85% voted to strike, the union said.

Persons: It’s, ”, Jason Baze, “, Tom Gentile, Max, Vanessa Yurkevich Organizations: New, New York CNN, Boeing, International Association of Machinists, IAM Locations: New York

☆ Your Fourth of July Cookout will cost you less this year, according to American Farm Bureau
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Vanessa Yurkevich | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Families can expect to pay $67.73 for a party of 10, down 3% from last year’s record high, according to a survey from the American Farm Bureau Federation. Families are still feeling the pinch of high inflation along with other factors keeping prices high,” said Roger Cryan, chief economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation. This year’s cookout cost is the second highest on record, following last year’s record setting number — $69.68 for a party of 10. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), has been conducting the survey since 2013. Potato prices also rose because of poor growing weather, the Farm Bureau said.

Persons: —, ”, Roger Cryan, quarts, Don’t Organizations: CNN, American Farm Bureau Federation, Farm Bureau, Farmers Locations: Puerto Rico

☆ Directors Guild of America ratifies new contract with studios
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Vanessa Yurkevich | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Members of the Directors Guild of America voted to approve a new three-year contract with studios Friday, with 87% of membership voting in favor of the deal. The contract, which was recommended by the DGA negotiating committee was a “historic” deal for wages, work hours, residuals, and artificial intelligence. The tentative agreement was reached against the backdrop of the Writers Guild Strike, which has been going on for eight weeks. AMPTP and the Writers Guild were not able to come up with a deal before their contract expired on May 1. This vote result could set the tone and precedent for the striking Writers Guild.

Persons: ”, Lesli Linka Glatter, Alec Baldwin, Halyna Hutchins, AMPTP Organizations: CNN, Guild of America, DGA, Alliance, Television Producers, Apple, CBS, Disney, NBC Universal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony, Warner Bros ., Writers Guild, Artificial Intelligence, IA, Teamsters, SAG

☆ Boeing supplier shuts down plant after workers vote to strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Vanessa Yurkevich | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —Spirit AeroSystems, a key supplier to Boeing, shut down its factory in Wichita, Kansas, on Thursday after workers represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers voted to strike. The suspended production comes after employees voted down Spirit AeroSystems’ “best and final offer” and then authorized a strike, according to the union. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, or IAM, represents about 6,000 workers at the plant. “The IAM’s dedicated and hardworking membership at Spirit AeroSystems has worked without fail during tumultuous times, including a pandemic that saw everything grind to a halt. “We are disappointed that our employees represented by the IAM rejected our four-year contract offer and voted to strike.

Persons: ’, AeroSystems Organizations: New, New York CNN, Boeing, International Association of Machinists, Aerospace Workers, IAM Locations: New York, Wichita , Kansas

☆ Forget retirement. These Baby Boomers are amassing huge social media followings
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Vanessa Yurkevich | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

And that was the turning point in social media for me,” Polise said. And Chobani worked with 74-year-old Lynn Davis, whose cooking videos have attracted 15.7 million TikTok followers, for an ad promoting the brand. Most Americans on social media are between the ages of 18 and 29. But the number of people 65-plus on social media grows each year: In 2014, 21% of those in that age group were on social media, a figure that more than doubled to 45% by 2021, according to Pew Research. She says her over-the-top eclectic style catches the eye of her younger followers, inspiring them to take risks and express themselves.

Persons: Helen Polise isn’t, ”, I’ll, ” Polise, She’s, Polise, I’m, Goldman Sachs, Chobani, Lynn Davis, influencer Debra Rapaport, “ I’m, I’ve, “, messaged Organizations: New, New York CNN —, Brands, Hyundai, Pew Research Locations: New York, Palm Springs

☆ Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union reach tentative labor agreement
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Vanessa Yurkevich | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union reached a tentative agreement Wednesday after more than a year of negotiations. The new six year deal covers workers at all 29 West Coast Ports and comes after worker stoppages that closed various West Coast port terminals in recent weeks. The deal was reached with assistance from Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su who met with both sides earlier this week, the PMA and the ILWU said in a joint statement. Details of the deal will not be released and is subject to ratification. “We are also pleased to turn our full attention back to the operation of the West Coast Ports,” they said.

Persons: Julie Su, ” James McKenna, Willie Adams Organizations: CNN, Pacific Maritime Association, Warehouse Union, Coast Ports, Labor, West Coast Ports Locations: West Coast

New York CNN —Negotiators for UPS and the Teamsters union have reached a tentative agreement on a crucial issue in their contract talks: The shipping giant has finally agreed to install air conditioning – gradually – in its entire fleet of 95,000 delivery vans. The issue of air conditioning was a major bargaining goal for the union in the negotiations. The agreement does not require retrofitting the existing vans with air conditioning. “Heat safety is no exception.”The tentative agreement on air conditioning is not the only sign of progress. The surge in online purchases that started during the height of the pandemic drove record package delivery volumes for UPS and other delivery services.

Persons: they’ve, Sean O’Brien, ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, UPS, Teamsters, Occupational Safety, Health Administration, Health, ”, “ Locations: New York

☆ They said we were getting a recession. Instead, we’re getting a bull market
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

A recipe for a bull market, apparently. “The key difference for us is that you tend to see bull markets coincide with economic expansions, not economic contractions.”Still, since the last bull market, we’ve had a pandemic, a war in Europe, a banking crisis and a debt crisis among other dramas. “Such narrowness is not what new bull markets are built on.”The bottom line: Investors should “avoid getting sucked into this as a new bull market,” said Samana. A nationwide UPS strike would be the largest work stoppage in US history, reports my colleague Vanessa Yurkevich. US Bankruptcies reach highest level in 13 yearsChapter 11 filings in the US have reached their highest levels since the end of the Great Recession, according to new data from S&P Global Market Intelligence..

Persons: “ We’re, ” Sameer Samana, we’ve, ”, Kevin Gordon, Charles Schwab, Lisa Shalett, they’ve, Vanessa Yurkevich, We’ve, Fred Zuckerman, pare Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Federal, Wells, Wells Fargo Investment Institute, CNN, Tech, Nvidia, US, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, UPS, Teamsters, –, Brotherhood of Teamsters, 1st, “, ”, P Global Market Intelligence, Bed, P, Retail, City Locations: New York, Wells Fargo, Europe, Samana, America

☆ 340,000 UPS workers are voting whether to authorize a massive strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Vanessa Yurkevich | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —As Americans become even more reliant on delivery, hundreds of thousands of UPS workers this week could authorize a strike that will bring the world’s biggest package courier to a standstill. UPS workers will vote this week on whether to authorize a strike if their union – the International Brotherhood of Teamsters – does not reach a new contract with UPS by August 1st. A nationwide UPS strike would be the largest work stoppage in US history. The union represents more than half of UPS’s total global employee base – 340,000 UPS Teamsters – which includes drivers and package sorters. “The National Committee strongly urges all UPS Teamsters to vote YES to authorize a strike.

Persons: “, ”, Sean M, O’Brien, We’ve, Fred Zuckerman, we’ve, CNN’s Chris Isidore Organizations: CNN, –, Brotherhood of Teamsters, UPS, 1st, Teamsters, National, ”

☆ West Coast dockworkers disrupt trade for a fourth day, says maritime group
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Vanessa Yurkevich | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —For a fourth day, dockworkers at West Coast ports in the United States are disrupting international trade, according to the Pacific Maritime Association. The West Coast ports, which once handled the bulk of US trade — especially during the pandemic, have relinquished some volume to the Gulf and East Coast Ports. The West Coast ports have said they are capable and open for business. Much of the diverted cargo may never return to the West Coast,” the PMA said. “We are getting there but it’s important to understand that West Coast dockworkers kept the economy going during the pandemic and lost their lives doing so.

Persons: Biden, ”, David French, Willie Adams, “, dockworkers Organizations: CNN, Pacific Maritime Association, Port, Warehouse Union, PMA, East Coast, National Retail Administration, National Retail Federation Locations: dockworkers, West Coast, United States, Port of Long, Los Angeles, Long, Oakland, Seattle, Port, Tacoma, Gulf, East, East Coast Ports, West, California

☆ America has an umpire shortage. Unruly parents aren’t helping
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Vanessa Yurkevich | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

In one Little League game in Alabama, a coach was seen grabbing an umpire and throwing him to the ground, while kids looked on in bewilderment. In another viral video, parents in Texas aggressively yelled at an umpire, who ended the game early over the disruption. It doesn’t mean I enjoy the way you are calling the game,” Wood told the umpire. The average pay for a youth umpire is $45 to $85 a game, according to the Babe Ruth League. Kelly Peterfriend, who also has a son in Ramsey’s Little League, says she gets most animated during her son’s soccer games.

☆ Major Financial institutions warn of "devastating scenario" if Biden and Congress do not raise debt ceiling
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Vanessa Yurkevich | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

In an open letter to President Biden and top Congressional leaders Tuesday, nearly 150 business leaders urged the two sides to act – or face “a devastating scenario … and potentially disastrous consequences,” the letter states. Much worse will occur if the nation defaults on our debt obligations, which would weaken our position in the world financial system,” the letter states. A default on the nation’s debt could send the economy into a recession, and the stock market could tank. In fact, we have already seen Treasury’s borrowing costs increase substantially for securities maturing in early June,” Secretary Yellen wrote Monday. “This cannot be allowed to happen,” the letter states.

☆ This Girl Scout troop sells cookies to support girls experiencing homelessness
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Vanessa Yurkevich | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

It’s important for every scout — but perhaps especially for Troop 6000, which is comprised entirely of girls who are experiencing homelessness or living in shelters. Unlike most Girl Scouts, Troop 6000’s cookie sale covers all fees for the girls including trips, summer camps and other activities. The funds help the troop hold Girl Scouts activities, as well as launch programs like the Troop 6000 Transition Initiative to support scouts and their families as they transition to permanent housing. So far, 100 migrant girls have joined Girl Scouts Troop 6000. Troop 6000 offers women a chance to lead in their community, by taking on volunteer roles within their shelters’ troops.

☆ Movie theaters are most at risk if the writers’ strike drags on, Moody’s says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Vanessa Yurkevich | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Already strained movie theater companies could be hurt most from the Writers Guild of America strike, according to an analysis released Thursday. “New big-budget tent-pole releases tend to fill theaters,” said Moody’s in its new analysis. But in terms of the volume of content produced, television (networks and streamers) has more exposure,” said Moody’s. “Television will bear the brunt of a long strike as the implications of the writers’ strike will play out more noticeably for TV networks, stations, cable channels, and streamers. TV networks, particularly broadcast networks, consistently schedule new prime-time shows to begin in the fall,” the Moody’s analysis said.

☆ Bud Light wanted to market to all. Now, it's alienating everyone
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

New York CNN —For years, Bud Light leaned on jokey ad campaigns and its designation as a light beer to push sales. Now, Bud Light finds itself seeking younger drinkers, and stumbling through America’s polarized landscape in the process. There have been calls for a Bud Light boycott. And the stock of Bud Light owner Anheuser-Busch (BUD) has fallen only about 3% in the last month, suggesting Wall Street isn’t too worried. Bud Light, he thinks, could be missing out on that type of support.

☆ Hollywood braces for writers strike with two sides are apart
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —The clock is ticking toward a costly strike that could shut down production on most television shows, pushing back the return of many programs now set for the fall. With less than a day left before the deadline, the two sides appear far apart. Many of the media and tech companies producing shows that use the writers have seen drops in their stock price, prompting deep cost cutting, including layoffs. Handel is one of those who thinks a strike, quite possibly a months-long strike, is likely. “The tune today is profits.”The union represents 11,500 writers for television shows, both for networks and streaming services, as well as many motion pictures.

☆ Anheuser-Busch facilities face threats after Bud Light backlash
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

New York CNN —Several Anheuser-Busch facilities received threats last week, a company spokesperson confirmed, following weeks of backlash against Bud Light because it sponsored two Instagram posts from a transgender woman. Mulvaney’s timeline shows one previous post that is also marked as a Bud Light partnership. Siegfried Anthony/STAR MAX/IPx 2023/APMulvaney is among many social media personalities that Bud Light partners with, Anheuser-Busch said in a statement to CNN last week. “F**k Bud Light, F**k Anheuser-Busch,” he said. Anheuser-Busch (BUD) is set to report its first-quarter financial results, including revenue, on May 4.

☆ The viral new ‘Drake’ and ‘Weeknd’ song is not what it seems
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —One of the buzziest songs recently circulating on TikTok and climbing the Spotify charts featured the familiar voices of best-selling artists Drake and the Weeknd. But there’s a twist: Drake and the Weeknd appear to have had nothing to do with it. The viral track, “Heart on my Sleeve,” comes from an anonymous TikTok user named Ghostwriter977, who claims to have used artificial intelligence to generate the voices of Drake and the Weeknd for the track. The original TikTok video has seemingly been taken down, and the song has since been removed from streaming services including YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify. Taryn Southern’s debut song “Break Free,” which was composed and produced with AI, hit the Top 100 radio charts back in 2018, and VAVA, an AI music artist (i.e.

☆ Universal Music Group calls AI music a ‘fraud,’ wants it banned from streaming platforms. Experts say it’s not that easy
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Vanessa Yurkevich | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —Universal Music Group — the music company representing superstars including Sting, The Weeknd, Nicki Minaj and Ariana Grande — has a new Goliath to contend with: artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence, and specifically AI music, learns by either training on existing works on the internet or through a library of music given to the AI by humans. That could possibly threaten UMG’s deep library of music and artists that generate billions of dollars in revenue. “However, the training of generative AI using our artists’ music … begs the question as to which side of history all stakeholders in the music ecosystem want to be on.”The company said AI that uses artists’ music violates UMG’s agreements and copyright law. Grammy-winning DJ and producer David Guetta proved in February just how easy it is to create new music using AI.

The vote announced Monday afternoon showed 97.9% of participating union members voting to approve a potential strike. A file photo shows members of the Writers Guild of America walk the picket line in New York during their last strike in 2007. Unions typically conduct a strike authorization vote during the course of negotiations, and they almost always get approved by overwhelming margins. Negotiators for the AMPTP and the Writers Guild met at the negotiating table on Friday, according to one producer close to negotiations. AMPTP gave WGA new proposals in response to some of the Guild’s contract requests – and is awaiting review and feedback on those Monday, along with the strike vote results, the producer said.

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