67% of Likely Voters Support Striking Workers, Only 18% Oppose; This support Cuts Across Party Lines, with 68% of Independents Showing Support for Workers
86% of Voters Supporting Strikes Would Maintain Their Support Even if Dispute Interrupts Their Favorite Shows
74% Think Studios Should Be Prohibited from Replacing Human Writers with AI
Washington, D.C.—Today, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler released the following statement in response to the new nationwide poll, conducted by Data for Progress, showing a strong majority of voters support the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA as members continue their strikes and negotiate for fair pay and employment protections.
“This latest poll confirms what we’ve been hearing across the country: The American people strongly support the striking writers, performers and other media professionals, and overwhelmingly agree that they should be compensated fairly and protected from studios using AI to replace human workers,” said Shuler. “Voters understand that this isn’t just about one industry—this is about all of us—and unions need to have a seat at the table to take on the existential threat AI poses to our livelihoods and economy.”
Key findings from the poll (read full poll cross tabulations and brief here):
- 87% agree that actors and writers should receive the appropriate compensation when their work continues to earn money for corporations from reruns or streaming.
- 85% agree that actors have the right to their own images, voice and likeness, and must be ensured consent and fair compensation when any of it is used with artificial intelligence (AI).
- 82% agree that major Hollywood studios and streamers—such as NBCUniversal, Netflix, Amazon, Disney and Paramount—should guarantee that screenwriters, actors and other media professionals are fairly compensated for the streaming revenue generated from their work.
- 74% agree that Hollywood studios should be prohibited from replacing human writers with AI tools for the purpose of writing material for movies and TV shows.
- 72% agree that TV actors and writers should receive fair compensation and employment terms that account for the shorter seasons and longer hiatuses between seasons on streaming services.
- 86% of voters who originally said they supported the strikes say they will continue to support the strikes even when informed that the strikes could cause major production delays on TV shows and movies they enjoy.
- 59% of voters say they have an unfavorable opinion of the major Hollywood studios after learning that they rejected the demands of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA, while just 21% reported a favorable opinion.
Contact: Isabel Aldunate, 202-637-5018