Is the Writers Guild a Trap?

This has been bothering me for some time about the WGA strike. After going back and forth about whether or not it's a good idea to strike the 'companies' who have been withholding royalties and other funds from writers I've come to some thought provoking solutions and conclusions. As I explain my theories I would like to point out the fact that this is an opinion about the facts of the guild and what they're here for.

I've been on conference calls with some industry professionals who were on the street picketing in front of some of the struck companies accused of withholding royalties from writers. I've never heard of so many passionate people coming together for what they believe is an unjust and disrespectful act towards them. I was with them as they related to me and other writers their frustrations with the studio production companies. Tears were starting to form in my eyes as one writer protested the fact that she's been missing so many paychecks that she had to put her home up for sale. It was tragic and harrowing to listen to them as they cried out for their missing royalties and lack of respect for the craft of writing. In truth, I was ready to get a plane ticket and fly to where they were and join in the picketing. I decided not to do so since I'm not a member of the guild which, in turn, set off some red flags about this whole strike.

First of all, from the outside looking in, I feel that this might have been a mistake on the part of the WGA to go through with the strike. Now this is simply because the writers who are protesting are seriously missing out on funds that are now being rewarded to non-guild members like myself and a few others I know of. When the lady got on the phone and gave her testimony about how the production companies weren't paying her royalty checks I said to myself, "Did it occur to some of you writers that the WGA may be the ones taking the fees from your royalties?" It would seem to me that they are since they charge a fee every time a writer who is a member signs with a production company who is signed on with them.