Teamsters Local 399 Calls for More Transparency on Paramount-Warner Bros Merger

Teamsters Local 399 representative Lindsay Dougherty said the union has repeatedly asked Paramount for information showing how the planned merger with Warner Bros. Discovery would benefit the industry, its members and domestic production. She noted that promises of worker prosperity have been made without concrete commitments, and warned that using the merger as a bargaining tool could threaten jobs.

Dougherty added that Paramount’s recent statements about potentially moving operations out of California if state officials do not reach an agreement by Oct. 1 raise concerns about the impact on the local workforce. She urged the company to demonstrate a stronger commitment to employees.

The merger, valued at $111 billion, is currently stalled amid an antitrust lawsuit filed by state attorneys general. A trial on the case is scheduled for spring 2027, which could delay the transaction and result in daily fees for Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders. The deal also faces financial challenges, including an estimated $80 billion in debt and potential regulatory hurdles.

Larry Ellison, founder of Oracle and father of David Ellison, is financially backing a portion of the transaction, but analysts note that the merger’s financial structure remains uncertain.