LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: On Friday, July 21, Los Angeles City Controller Kenneth Mejia tweeted that NBCUniversal Studios would be fined $250 by StreetsLA for pruning trees without permission. Additionally, he stated that he would find ways to review these laws because "outdated laws limit fine amounts and aren’t equitable across offenders, especially big corporations." On Tuesday, July 18, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA both lodged labor grievances against NBCUniversal, claiming that the company was interfering with their strike.
According to the Los Angeles Times, NBCUniversal did not obtain the necessary permit to cut the Ficus trees along Barham Boulevard. Striking actors and authors expressed their suspicions about the unexpected pruning on social media, claiming that it was done solely to deny picketers shade amid the sweltering heat. NBCU's sidewalks outside were suddenly bathed in the full glare of the sun as striking picketers arrived this week. Trees that had been offering shade during the harsh summer days had been cut and were nearly leafless.
'That was not our intention'
Tree trimming is usually handled by the Bureau of Street Services of the Los Angeles Department of Public Works. The studio issued a statement in response to allegations that they were trying to make things difficult for the protesters. The statement read, "That was not our intention. In partnership with licensed arborists, we have pruned these trees annually at this time of year to ensure that the canopies are light ahead of the high wind season. We support the WGA and SAG’s right to demonstrate, and are working to provide some shade coverage. We continue to openly communicate with the labor leaders on-site to work together during this time." The studio has since provided tents for the picketers, who are also striking against Disney, Netflix, Amazon and Warner Bros.
NBCUniversal further stated, "We strongly believe that the company has fulfilled our legal obligations under the National Labor Relations Act and we will cooperate with respect to any inquiries by the National Labor Relations Board on this issue. While we understand the timing of our multi-year construction project has created challenges for demonstrators, we continue to work with public agencies to increase access."
'Obviously getting much hotter now'
Hollywood author and WGA strike leader Darrin Dortch told The Ankler that NBCU security helped set up the tents. "It’s obviously getting much hotter now, so we have these tents up so that when people are out here with their signs they have a spot here with some tents and with some misters, and that gives us a little relief," he said.
Mejia said that he was looking into the situation. He wrote on Twitter, "Our office is investigating the tree trimming that occurred outside Universal Studios where workers, writers and actors are exercising their right to picket. The trimmed trees are L.A. City managed street trees."
'Should be fined $250k for each tree'
Internet users immediately took to social media to express their rage over NBCU's act of cutting trees. One user wrote, "They probably paid more for the actual tree trimming." A second exclaimed, "Should be fined $250k for each tree." A third wrote, "That's it...Mind you it's a pittance fine, but maybe they should also put up a few canopies since they likely did it to discourage civil disobedience." Another enraged Twitter user wrote, "So, they illegally cut the crap out of the trees to affect the strikers ability to strike and the fine is only $250? City level corruption on full display." Someone else chimed in, "Sigh which is why they did it in the first place. The fine is ridiculous. Well at least the public embarrassment force them to put up tents."
Another user wrote, "That fee is pathetic. What are people's lives and well-being worth? What happens when someone suffers a heat related illness? This multi-billion dollar company violated the law and immorally put people in danger." Another individual claimed, "Those trees are dead. That is probably about $20k to 30k worth of trees and that is what I saw in the pics. So it could be more. Isn’t that is min for healthcare in @sagaftra?" Another one seethed, "I'll let Harpo's googgy explain how I feel about letting the billion dollar company off with a $250 fine. That blows my mind. The somebody in the city council get paid off by nbc? That probably cost more than $250 right there."
