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Keep it going! We can’t back down!
These are things of beauty.
This is obviously NOT a frivolous complaint — on its face it’s completely legitimate, given the pretty-much undisputed facts that the AMPTP really did break off negotiations with an ultimatum. There’s a lot of evidence to confirm what happened — for example the “Airtalk” program on KPPC when the AMPTP spokesman emphasized their unwillingness to bargain until the Guild took jurisdiction off the table.
I’ll bet this action causes real trouble for the producers….
Love it!
Great scoop, Nikki.
I wonder how the AMPTP pigs are going to weasel out of this one.
For those interested in the law itself, you can find it here: http://www.nlrb.gov/nlrb/legal/manuals/rules/act.pdf
I’m no lawyer, but pages 7 to 12 look to be particularly interesting as they deal with unfair labor practices and the definition of what it means to bargain collectively.
Time to start mentioning the A & M words. ANTI-TRUST and MONOPOLY.
And this helps us how when the NLRB reports that they will schedule an investigation sometime in the spring? And if this is such a powerful move by Pat and Dave, why didn’t they unleash it IMMEDIATELY upon the AMPTP walking away? It took them six days to come up with this?
Folks, we were all sold a bill of goods by Pat and Dave. Their arrogance and ignorance have shifted the focus from our valid issues to this sort of crap.
What do you all think will happen if the AMPTP is forced back to the table? They can sit ther and say the same thing in person. ‘Take this off the table.’ We say no. ‘Take this off the table.’ We say no.
Welcome to the living, breathing, talking ultimatum.
I’ve known from the beginning that I’m in the minority since I do not subscribe to the philosophy that the collectivist lemming approach is a healthy strategy as our guild is driven off a cliff. Our leaders are arguing over a future that, in ten years, won’t matter. Distribution will be open to anyone with guts, creativity, and a fat digital pipe.
We’re destroying lives and futures and careers because our leaders want a piece of a disappearing pie, when we can be baking the damn things ourselves in the very near future.
Go ahead. Flame away.
Wow! This is huge!
The AMPTP have really been sticking the knife in and this is the WGA pulling it back out and giving them a great kick in the balls.
If the Director’s Guild back the WGA the AMPTP are really going to feel the pain.
(((WGA)))
Where’s Gavin Polone on this one. I would certainly be interested in hearing his psychobabble insight (or lack thereof) on this latest development. Could it be that:
Gavin Polone -
Wrong on “My Super Ex-Girlfriend”…
Wrong position on the Writer’s Guild strike…
WRONG for America.
And there was doubt that our team knew what they were doing? The AMPTP walked right into this! They even provided a LETTER admitting to exactly what the law prevents! Read the letter again. And their press releases. God, this is beautiful.
I’m somewhat surprised we didn’t include a complaint about the unfair bargaining which caused the Strike, that is, the agreement between Parties that if we took DVD residual increase demands off the table they would offer us a fair deal on new media.
That of course never happened and the Strike took effect.
One other note: If indeed we can open Federal and CA State Investigations against them for this and Unfair Labor Practices, it could halt any movement on their proposed rollback of FCC Regulations which would further create a stranglehold Monopoly for them.
I can’t fathom ANY Politicians who would push this bill in the light of Pending Investigations against them.
It may end up being a stroke of genuis which could cost them billions more for their myopic strategy.
God bless America!!!
Hmmm. There’s Nick Coulter’s telephone and FAX number. I wonder if about ten million fans are interested in sending him a fax to tell him how much they disapprove of him. Hmmmm.
HEY NICK COUNTER – EAT MY TOM SHORTS!
Traditionally, the entertainment industry stays far, far away from the NLRB, so this is a bit of a surprise. But even if there is a finding of unfair labor practices the only remedy is the Board telling the AMPTP to go back to the table. Best scenario is that the AMPTP will restart negotiations on their own before any ruling is made (which may take months or years).
AMPTP.org has been revamped
I guess that’s one way to dodge the ridicule that descended on these idiots. Come on AMPTP.com, keep up!!
“longtime WGA”. Seriously, could you be more obvious? I say again, you guys really suck at this.
Any way you slice it, it makes ‘em look bad. Network TV advertisers be ware — the AMPTP has only their own best interest in mind, no one else’s. I believe this to be all a part of a string of prompts to get them back to the bargaining table.
Exceedingly bad press + legal documentation + very pissed off fans and advertisers = negotiation resumption
“The AMPTP walked right into this! They even provided a LETTER admitting to exactly what the law prevents!”
Guys? Who appoints the NLRB? And is it more likely that he’d appoint sincere, qualified individuals who want to uphold the law or hacks who willfully disregard the law and make it up as they go? And if they do disregard the law and rule against us, we’ll take a tremendous PR hit. I really hoped we looked into the backgrounds of the current board members carefully before we filed.
Quotations from the South Shore Hospital case referenced by the WGA:
This sounds pretty damn on topic to me. Almost exactly so, right down to the language about refusing to make economic proposals. The only problem of course is whether Bush’s flacks on the NLRB have any interest in doing their jobs the way they were intended.
As for the NLRB hacks, remember that the AMPTP, i.e., the studios and networks, are generally regarded as Democratic bastions (exceptions, of course, for Rupert et. al.) — and they’ve retained Dem PR consultants — so I’m not so sure the Repub NLRB will swing too heavily in the producers’ direction as far as the party politics are concerned –
Does anybody know if the NLRB has been so packed with ultra right, extremist pro business Bush cronies that nothing will get done?
No use looking at past NRLB decisions for guidance on how they might rule – they don’t have to follow their own precedents. I know, shocking, right? But that’s how it works, a system separate from the US legal system.
And don’t get me started on how the hearings are run. It’ll make you lose faith in democracy.
And about the current Board – Bush appointees. Enough said.
Don’t look to the Board for help. Best bet is that this will make the AMPTP come back to the table voluntarily, rather than facing the possibility of being ordered to.
“longtime WGA” states “Our leaders are arguing over a future that, in ten years, won’t matter. Distribution will be open to anyone with guts, creativity, and a fat digital pipe.”
We don’t know what the future will look like. It’s entirely possible that distribution will be as you claim. It’s more probable that, as always, Big Media will still be in control of the pipeline, especially if they conquer net neutrality. (Don’t know what net neutrality is? Look it up. It’s important.) Want proof? Look no further than News Corps acquisition of MySpace.
So, bringing in the NLRB? Good move. Especially since the AMPTP is providing such a handy dollar ticker on their website, indicating how much their non-gotiations and ultimatum have cost the writers. I say the NLRB use that figure as the basis for a fine. $111 million at last count? Sounds good to me.
“so I’m not so sure the Repub NLRB will swing too heavily in the producers’ direction as far as the party politics are concerned –”
Don’t be so sure. The AMPTP bigwigs may be mostly Democrats, but they’re trying to destroy our unions. That’s something Bush’s NLRB will be more than happy to help them out with. Bipartisanship at its worst. They’re rich guys trying to screw their workers, and I’m quite sure they’ll throw a ton of cash the Republicans’ way if the NLRB plays ball which they’re ideologically disposed to do anyway.