Support Strong for Striking Entertainment Industry Workers, Poll Finds

The public strongly supports striking entertainment industry workers and their fight for fair contracts, according to the results released today from a nationwide poll conducted by Data for Progress. More than two-thirds said they support the strikes by SAG-AFTRA and the WGA, with only 18% opposed.

Remarkably, even among those who view labor unions negatively, nearly half support the strikes, with just 37% opposed.

The results are even more dramatic when respondents are asked to weigh in on the individual issues over which the unions are striking, with between 72% and 87% agreeing on the unions’ stance over compensation, limits to AI use and other issues.

“The data shows that most people understand why the union was forced to go on strike. I suspect many are seeing the same dynamic playing out in their own lives, with employers undervaluing their contributions,” said SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland. “That’s why this fight is so important. Our demands aren’t unreasonable, and it’s a fundamental principle of fairness that workers should be fairly compensated for the value they bring their employer — in every industry.” 

The Data for Progress survey took place Aug. 3 to 5, among a sample of 1,124 likely voters nationally, weighted to be representative of likely voters by age, gender, education, race, geography and voting history. The margin of error is ±3 percentage.

About SAG-AFTRA

SAG-AFTRA represents approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other entertainment and media professionals. SAG-AFTRA members are the faces and voices that entertain and inform America and the world. A proud affiliate of the AFL-CIO, SAG-AFTRA has national offices in Los Angeles and New York and local offices nationwide representing members working together to secure the strongest protections for entertainment and media artists into the 21st century and beyond. Visit SAG-AFTRA online at SAGAFTRA.org.