Poll: Optimism waning in WGA strike

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- A new poll found most Variety subscribers believe the Writers Guild of America strike is justified, but will not culminate in a good deal for the scribes.

The WGA has been on strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers since Nov. 5.

Talks broke off last month and no new negotiating sessions have been scheduled.

The online survey of 616 Variety subscribers was conducted Dec. 26-31 by Frank N. Magid Associates.

The number of overall respondents who agreed the strike was necessary increased 3 percent from a similar November poll to 64 percent, the entertainment industry trade paper said.

The survey suggested WGA members remain overwhelmingly in support of the strike, with 86 percent saying the strike was necessary.

However, only nine percent of all the poll participants said they think the strike will be resolved in the writers' favor, while 57 percent said it will probably end in the conglomerates' favor.

Only 10 percent of WGA respondents said they believed the strike will end in the writers' favor.

A similar poll conducted in November found 22 percent of respondents who are WGA members thought the work stoppage would help them achieve their goals.