Earlier this week, it was announced that SAG (Screen Actor’s Guild) signed a deal with the studios, marking an end to the union’s 118 day strike. They now join the WGA (Writer’s Guild of America) in getting their Demands Met and being able to get back to work. This is a time for celebration, and the result of so much hard work on behalf of the WGA and SAG negotiating committees, and all of the people who showed up on the picket line day after day, despite the long period of uncertainty and lack of wages.

As a result of the strike, both SAG and WGA were able to get so many of their demands met. The AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) was resistant to making working conditions better for the writers and actors because they wanted to keep profits for themselves. This is a groundbreaking achievement and will make life better for some of the most underpaid and exploited creatives in a multi-billion dollar industry.

The unions’ results clearly illustrate the power of striking and protest, as well as the length of time it may take to see results. WGA struck for 148 days. SAG-AFTRA struck for 118 days. Consumers and workers have power, but to exercise that power we need to rely on collective action and a commitment to doing what is right. I am incredibly proud of all of the people who stayed strong on picket lines and found other jobs in order to make ends meet. Now, they will have better contracts and improved working conditions for years to come.

Striking and boycotting works. Organizations such as the BDS Movement and other boycotting groups do powerful work. Unions such as the United Auto Workers Union, Starbucks Workers United, and others protect their workers and enable them to get the protections we deserve. The Fair Labor Standards Act that limited us to a 40 hour work week was the direct act of unions putting pressure on governments.

Let SAG and WGA inspire all of us to not give up on collective action. We have power, and the success of these two recent union strikes prove it.