Lolita Harper
BURBANK -- The possibility of a strike by members of the Writers Guild
of America has Burbank city officials prepared for the worst.
"I'm very concerned about the strike," Mayor Bob Kramer said. "If it
happens, it will cripple the valley, and Burbank is ground zero."
According to an Economic Development Strategy study, Burbank has about
132,000 workers employed in the entertainment industry. The industry's
economic impact on the city is $9.42 billion per year, the study
estimated.
The strike has the potential to severely affect small businesses and
workers who don't have the savings to survive a prolonged strike, said
Deputy Community Development Director Steve Donley.
Burbank officials have earmarked $210,000 for job placement services
to be performed by the Verdugo Jobs Center.
The money would come from a pool of Rapid Response money that Burbank,
Glendale and La Canada Flintridge share, Donley said. It is state money
that is distributed locally to fund a team of job counselors and
trainers.
Rapid Response team members have started working with union members
and temporary agencies to place as many people in jobs as possible, Rapid
Response team spokeswoman Lorey Hayes said.
The Writers Guild and the Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television
Producers had notcome to an agreement as of press time Friday. Although
their present contract expired Tuesday, both sides have continued
negotiations in hopes of reaching common ground.
