On March 1, the Writers Guild of America West told members that it had made the dramatic decision to cancel its annual awards show, set to be hosted by fast-rising comedian Atsuko Okatsuka, amid a bitter labor dispute with its striking staff. The union explained at the time that it wouldn’t force its members to cross a picket line to enter the ceremony.
Now, the would-be host of that show is headlining a new event: this one in support of the union’s striking staff. The Writers Guild Staff Union (WGSU) announced on Thursday that Okatsuka had been added to the lineup of a comedy fundraiser for their efforts taking place on Sunday at Echo Park’s Bar Bandini.
Okatsuka, who is a member of the WGA herself, is set to appear at the WGSU event alongside fellow performers Andrea Jin, Naomi Ekperigin, Jared Logan, Solomon Georgio, Bryan Cook and David Venhuizen.
”I’m a union girl,” Okatsuka told The Hollywood Reporter in a statement. ”We’re only as strong as the people behind the scenes!! We’re one unit, so we must move as such.”
Okatsuka added, “I was supposed to host the awards this Saturday. A day of celebrating the hard work of artists in one of the strongest unions in the U.S. But could we really celebrate while the staff, who help support the union are asking to be heard of their needs? I’m honored to stand with them.”
Will she be performing some of the jokes she had planned for the WGA West ceremony? Absolutely, she said. “What else am I going to do with all these Bugonia jokes?”
It’s the latest example of a WGA writer showing support for staff members as they fight with union management to come to terms on a first labor contract. The WGSU’s first “day of solidarity,” designed for WGA members to come out and picket with staffers, took place on Feb. 24. The next one is set for Friday.
Perhaps the most high-profile writer to speak out so far has been Seth Rogen, who on March 1 took a shot at WGA West management while accepting an Actor Award from SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union. “You were able to pay your own employees enough to keep the award show from being canceled?” he joked onstage at L.A.’s Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall. “Take notes, WGA.”
The WGSU’s staff union began their strike on Feb. 17 in protest of alleged unfair labor practices, including surveillance of union members, the termination of a union organizer’s employment and bad-faith bargaining. The WGA West has denied all these charges, saying that it has offered “comprehensive” proposals during negotiations for the WGSU’s first contract and that it “respects the staff union’s right to strike, and will continue to bargain in good faith.”