The cast of Grey’s Anatomy, one of the longest-running medical dramas on television, recently joined the picket line protest alongside other first responder TV shows. Actress Kim Raver, who plays Dr. Teddy Altman on the show, shared highlights from the picketing session on her Instagram account. Raver was joined by fellow cast members Chandra Wilson, James Pickens Jr., and others.
In a video set to Taylor Swift’s Cruel Summer, Raver can be seen holding a picket sign as she walks alongside Wilson and Jaicy Elliot. The video also features group photos with Wilson, Pickens Jr., Elliot, as well as Harry Shum Jr., Caterina Scorsone, and Niko Tehro. During the protest, Wilson and Pickens Jr. made speeches in front of a SAG/AFTRA tent, receiving applause from the crowd. Jason George, an actor from the show Station 19 and a member of the SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee, also spoke at the event and posed for photos with the group.
The picketing session, which took place outside Warner Bros. studios in Burbank, focused on actors working in first responder TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Station 19. James Pickens Jr. spoke about the need for equity and fairness in the industry, stating that actors will continue to fight for their rights. Jason George highlighted the importance of first responder shows in the industry and urged actors to stay strong and show their support.
The picket was organized by SAG-AFTRA, a union representing actors in the film and television industry. In July, the union initiated a strike after failed contract negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The strike aims for pay and residual increases, higher caps on pension and health contributions, and regulations on the use of artificial intelligence, among other demands.
Fran Drescher, the president of SAG-AFTRA, stated that the decision to strike was unanimous and emphasized the need for change in the business model due to streaming, digital, and artificial intelligence. The strike has garnered support from various actors and has put pressure on production companies to address the demands of the union.
The presence of the Grey’s Anatomy cast members on the picket line highlights their solidarity with their fellow actors and their commitment to fighting for a fair and equitable industry. As the strike continues, actors hope to create lasting change that will benefit not only themselves but future generations of performers.
