With actors about to go on an official strike–and writers already months into their own–Disney CEO Bob Iger had some choice words for those unions during a CNBC Squawk Box segment. He basically said both unions are unrealistic about their expectations in contract negotiations with studios.
Variety reports Iger was in Idaho when he chatted with David Faber on CNBC. Speaking about the possibility that Hollywood actors will strike for the first time since 1980, Iger said: “It’s very disturbing to me. We’ve talked about disruptive forces on this business and all the challenges we’re facing, the recovery from COVID which is ongoing, it’s not completely back. This is the worst time in the world to add to that disruption.
“I understand any labor organization’s desire to work on behalf of its members to get the most compensation and be compensated fairly based on the value that they deliver. We managed, as an industry, to negotiate a very good deal with the directors guild that reflects the value that the directors contribute to this great business. We wanted to do the same thing with the writers, and we’d like to do the same thing with the actors. There’s a level of expectation that they have, that is just not realistic.”