Part 6/12:

Another critical factor undermining Hollywood is the decline of entertainment unions, which have become embroiled in hyperactivism, demanding diversity quotas, and pushing policies that may alienate audiences. Union strikes, notably in 2023, inflicted lasting damage—reducing union memberships, slashing wages, and triggering layoffs. For example, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) saw membership shrink, with only about half earning enough to cover health insurance, and union earnings plummeted by 32%.

Union leaders often dismiss wage increases as a cause of outmigration, but insiders recognize union inefficiencies and overreach as contributors to contraction. Films and TV shows are being produced with fewer union members, many of whom are earning less, intensifying the cycle of decline.