John Edwards, whose presidential campaign has sought labor support to help propel him to the Democratic nomination, joined striking members of the Writers Guild of America-East at a celebrity-studded rally in New York on Tuesday.

“I’m proud to be here walking with these workers, these people who are creative, who play an important role in the production of a product that is generating revenue,” the former North Carolina senator said. “They deserve a fair chance to share in that revenue.

“If we want real economic security for working people in this country, we have to grow and strengthen the union movement,” said Edwards, who noted he had joined striking screenwriters on the West Coast prior to this East Coast event.

The dispute between the 12,000-member Writers Guild of America and the studios’ Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers has centered around how much money film and TV writers should earn when their work is distributed via the Internet.

The first major strike against U.S. film and TV studios in nearly 20 years has crippled production of many television programs and movies. 

Also addressing the rally were actors Danny Glover and Tim Robbins, while listening in the crowd were actors Peter Dinklage and Joe Pantoliano, David Chase, creator of “The Sopranos”, and Patti Smith’s longtime guitar player and collaborator Lenny Kaye.

“I think it’s really great when a candidate comes down and expresses solidarity with workers,” said Kaye.

“Personally, I like Dennis Kucinich, but I can’t say that I’m in the mainstream,” he added.

Photo credit: Reuters/Lucas Jackson