"The guild and other unions are justifiably concerned about a future where either company seizes control of Warner Bros. - especially given the billions in so-called "synergies," a.k.a. mass layoffs, the two companies foresee in a purchase. Perpetually seen as a Hollywood disruptor, Netflix would snap up a more-traditional studio and streaming business while running its own versions of both: Its management projects $2 to 3 billion in synergies by the time the merged company turns three."
"Paramount, as it has more business units that would be duplicative with Warner's, projects even more cost savings - a whopping $6 billion, the bulk of which would come from reduced headcount. (The company already laid off thousands this year in the wake of its merger with Skydance.) And both companies are cozying up to the Trump administration for regulatory favor. But as we've argued before, no matter who wins control of WB, workers ultimately lose."
The Writers Guild of America opposes the consolidation of Warner Bros. into either Netflix or Paramount, arguing that the problem is the acquisition itself rather than the buyer. The guild says companies should invest in their own businesses rather than spending tens of billions to buy competitors. The mergers promise large "synergies" that equate to mass layoffs, with Netflix projecting $2–3 billion in savings by year three and Paramount projecting about $6 billion, largely from reduced headcount. Paramount already conducted large layoffs after its Skydance merger, and both bidders are courting the Trump administration for regulatory favor. Workers stand to lose the most.
Read at Vulture
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