Chris Stephens, a comedian, tweeted: "Quick shoutout for the good people @UniversalPics who trimmed the trees to give our picket-line shade just before a week of 90+ degrees."

Universal has been investigated for cutting down trees that were providing shade to striking workers in the summer heat.

On Twitter , comedian Chris Stephens shared a photo of trees that had their branches cut back to provide shade.

He wrote: "Quick shout out to the good folks at @UniversalPics who trimmed the trees which gave our picket-line shade just before a week of 90+ degrees,"

A quick shout out to @UniversalPics who trimmed the trees which provided shade for our picket lines just before a week with temperatures over 90 degrees. pic.twitter.com/aZvvPYQ23i

Chris Stephens, MD (@ChrisStephensMD), July 17, 2023

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia was contacted to determine if the action had been authorized.

"Trees provide Angelenos with significant benefits to the environment and public health, especially during heatwaves," he tweeted.

In a statement sent to CNN by an NBCUniversal spokesperson there was no malice in the actions.

The spokesperson said: "We are aware that the Ficus tree trimming we performed on Barham Blvd. The spokesperson said that the unintended consequences for demonstrators were not their intention. We have worked with arborists to prune these trees every year at this time, so that they are light and airy ahead of high-wind season.

How the Hollywood Strike mirrors what happened 60 years ago

Mejia, however, said that these trees were managed by the city and not Universal. They should be trimmed every five years, rather than annually as claimed by the spokesperson.

The City also did not issue tree trimming permits to the latest tree trimmings.

Mejia has posted a new update on how they plan to proceed.

"The City of LA Urban Forestry Division will coordinate with StreetsLA Investigation & Enforcement Division to confirm if the case warrants an administrative citation, or hearing," he written. If issued, administrative citation fees start at $250.

SAG-AFTRA & WGA filed unfair labor practice charges against NBCUniversal at the National Labor Relations Board.

A union spokesperson said CNNWednesday that "SAG-AFTRA is grateful for these efforts" to provide a safe environment for its members to exercise their federal right to join pickets to demand a fair deal. "Suspiciously-timed construction has forced picketers to walk in streets without safety rails and now, tree trimming is removing shade during a heatwave record, forcing SAG-AFTRA's decision that they cannot send their members to picket NBCUniversal."

NBCUniversal said to CNN: "We strongly believed that the company had fulfilled its legal obligations under National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). We will cooperate with any inquiries from the National Labor Relations Board regarding this issue."

We continue to work with the public agencies to improve access. We support the right of unions to safely demonstrate."

Los Angeles will likely reach temperatures of 90s degrees this week. This could cause picket lines to become exhausted.

In a conversation with Deadline earlier this month studio executives said that they planned to let the WGA strike drag on "until union members lose their apartments and houses."

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Title: Universal Under Fire For Trimming Trees Amid Hollywood Strike
Sourced From: www.toofab.com/2023/07/20/universal-under-fire-for-trimming-trees-amid-sag-wga-strike/
Published Date: Thu, 20 Jul 2023 16:49:12 +0000

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