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Here is the message just sent to membership by WGAW president Patric Verrone and WGAE president Michael Winship showing that the WGA-AMPTP negotiations have entered a new phase:
“We have responded favorably to the invitation from the AMPTP to enter into informal talks that will help establish a reasonable basis for returning to negotiations. During this period we have agreed to a complete news blackout. We are grateful for this opportunity to engage in meaningful discussion with industry leaders that we hope will lead to a contract. We ask that all members exercise restraint in their public statements during this critical period.
In order to make absolutely clear our commitment to bringing a speedy conclusion to negotiations we have decided to withdraw our proposals on reality and animation. Our organizing efforts to achieve Guild representation in these genres for writers will continue. You will hear more about this in the next two weeks.
On another issue, the Writers Guild, West Board of Directors has voted not to picket the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Members of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) face many of the same issues concerning compensation in new media that we do. In the interest of advancing our goal of achieving a fair contract, the WGAW Board felt that this gesture should be made on behalf our brothers and sisters in AFM and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA).”
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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It seems like not long ago Patric told a room full of us that the last media blackout was a major mistake and that they wouldn’t agree to it again.
I honestly can’t tell if that headline was intended to be snarky or not… I guess I’m just used to things being snarky after the knee-jerk “shitty DGA deal” headline coming right off your hiatus. Hope it was genuine because I do think things are starting to get serious and things will get very interesting over the next few weeks/days.
Taking Reality and Animation off the table is beyond dumb. Half the reason the networks and afford a strike is becuase they still have reality to fill the coffers. Shut down American Idol, Survivor and the rest and we wouldn’t have a six month strike. If the WGA can’t be certain of bringing them into the fold before the end of this contract (3 yrs), they are just putting themselves back in the same position as they were at the start of this strike.
It’s probably the best move on both counts. The next few days are going to be critical perhaps; a lot depends on the final DGA numbers. If they can jiggle those numbers a little, there might be some good news quickly. But if they don’t, and the Oscars get canned or curtailed….then it’s gonna be in SAG’s court..
I hope this put to rest the false notion that the WGA leaders are a bunch of zealots who are crazy and want to takeover the whole town. They are, and have always been reasonable, competent, bright individuals who have given up the last two years of their lives to fighting for the best deal possible for their membership.
And thankfully they, unlike studio laptog John Wells and angry man Craig Mazin, have decided to be cautious about the DGA’s deal and not talk of signing it before reading it. They understand that very few of the DGA members care about residuals, and therefore while any gains in new media seem positive, they should be studied to see if they actually help the WGA and SAG membership (and yes, it needs to satisfy SAG’s membership too, or we will all be back on strike in June.)
Keep up the good work, Patrick, David, and John, and we’ll all get back to work with a reasonable deal as soon as possible!
“Now it’s serious”? Nikki, I love you but that headline is misleading. It’s been serious for the Writers since the day the strike started (actually since we voted to give the authority to strike.) No writer I know has taken any of this lightly, and all want to get back to work as soon as possible provided there is a fair deal.
And yet the AMPTP walked away from the bargaining table 45 days ago, which guaranteed that thousands of people would be out of work for the holidays (writers, actors, directors and many more below the line people who have no dog in this fight.)
Thankfully the AMPTP is back, if not at the table, at least approaching it. It’s time for THEM to start taking the needs of the working people of this town seriously.
(And for those who would argue that the different theme days of picketing the writers have held , shows a certain frivolousness on their part, I disagree. Writers being writers, are extremely worried about their futures. And being creative people they needed some outlet to keep themselves laughing or else succumb to the anxiety. Plus, it did keep the press coming, which is no small thing.)
Well, we have now taken DVD Resid increases off the table (in Oct) as well as Animation and Reality Jurisdiction (today).
This opens the door to enter reasonable and fair negotiations to take place.
If the Companies indicated to our Negs they would be willing to change the EST formula from a Cap to a Percentage, there may be hope for progress.
If they don’t come off the Cap structure these talks won’t be very productive with us or SAG IMO.
I’m sure the Moguls are aware of this and the position they will be in as June looms.
It is and always has been up to the Companies.
Reality TV is off the table? What a crock! What was the Fremantle rally all about, then, besides being a big waste of time?
As a writer of one-hours who lately has been working more in reality, I feel abandoned.
The WGA is allowing the Grammy’s to go on? Cool. Now in return, can we get Beyonce to the picket lines for a day?
(Paramount’s dancing gate, please!)
From Dan Sabbagh’s article in today’s (Jan 22nd) Times Online:
“Mr Zucker also said that he believed the three-month-old writer’s strike would be over “in two weeks”.”
To my beloved WGA members and leaders I say, if the AMPTP suddenly wants this to be over in two weeks, then now is the time to remain steadfast in our goals. I am a fan of our leadership currently, but if they take this opportunity to get a fair deal, this rare and sacred opportunity to actually get the things we are fighting for and then waste it, I am going to be beyond disappointed.
This strike is costing me money. I am fine with that. But I want something for it. Something tangible and concrete. Something that says following the leadership down this path was worth it.
And if the companies aren’t offering it now, I will wait for it. Because, I believe, they will offer much, much more down the road.
In mid-December, CBS’s stock was down 25% over the last 12 months. 25%! They are trying to downplay how much they are hurting, but the stock prices are public. NBC NEEDS the Oscars.
Now is the time to get the things we want. Not to give them away.
We only have a few bargaining chips, and to hear that we just gave away reality AND animation before we were even in formal talks really makes me question the leadership that I have been such a huge fan of. What did we get for giving away DVDs? Absolutely nothing. What are we getting for giving away reality and animation? We made it clear that we are serious?? I think the AMPTP should take the fact that we’ve been at the table as evidence that we are serious. What did we get that we wouldn’t have gotten by saving that and trading it when it could mean something significant. I hope we got something more than a promise. I mean we haven’t even seen the full DGA deal yet, as far as I know. Heck, I’m still waiting for the second half of the New Economic Partnership – the one that was so “groundbreaking” for writers.
I realize we have to compromise, but we also have to realize when we can be firm and resolute and for once have the other side move toward us. Now is the time for the leaders to fight for the things that we said we were going to fight for.
I am behind you, WGA. And I consider this a restrained public statement, when I beg you to make this strike mean something so that no one in the industry has to go through this again for a long, long time.
I know that there are those who feel that the withdrawal of the provision concerning the unionization of reality and animation writers will be perceived by some as a defeat. But if the sacrifice elicits a favorable response from AMPTP (i.e. they give something in return like good negotiators do), then it will be worth it for the good of both the union and the industry as a whole. Even bigger, though, may be the call for a media blackout, though I know the union has been there before as well and been screwed for their efforts. If the AMPTP this time really means business, this could be done in short order.
If not, God help us all.
“All the time you spend trying to get back what’s been took from you,
there’s more going out the door…
After a while you just try to get a tourniquet on it”
“No Country for Old Men”
Written by WGA members Joel and Ethan Coen
I only hope that the WGA leadership pays attention to these very true words.
You are never going to get it back.
If this is the prerequisite for a deal then SHAME ON THE WGA
I have two months left, tops, and then I am not paying my mortgage
anymore. Tapped. Out of cash.
I have not been fiscally irresponsible.
I am not living in a million dollar house.
Not even close.
My wife has had multiple heart surgeries.
She will need more procedures.
We are running out of options.
We are running out of time.
I am pro-union
I am pro fair deal
I support the writers getting a good deal.
However, there have been several posts describing the need to get a deal that justifies this strike.
THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN.
The WGA will never recoup what has been lost .
Make your deal.
But please be realistic.
Let’s get back to work.
I know that a fair deal is of utmost importance to the WGA
I can’t emphasize just how important it is to this Belowtheliner.
YOU ARE NOW BACK AT THE TABLE
BE SMART.
BE REASONABLE.
BE RESPONSIBLE.
YOU RE NOT GOING TO GET IT BACK.
THE VERY LEAST YOU CAN DO IS GET US BACK TO WORK.
Thank you for your time and good luck with the negotiations.
We are all counting on you.
Just another BTLer
Wonder if “news blackout” includes hushed phone calls form the hallway to Nikki hoping to be included in the cool kids club.
Nikki, at least give them till next week without muckraking and getting the rank and file writers get all worked up and maybe they’ll surprise us and pop out of the room with a deal. Maybe take a week in Mexico or something…it worked for the DGA.
@Paul
The networks will never gove up reality. It’s their backup. Their plan B.
Shame on them for taking animation and reality off the table and for agreeing to a news blackout. What have they gotten in return? A few AMPTP-ers are willing to meet with them? They were going to do that anyway.
Once again animation and reality get sold down the river.
Boohiss!
John Wells is a producer. His shows have gone on and made tons of money. His take on the DGA agreement may not suit your liking, but his numbers on how shows are used over and over again all over the world are telling. Do you remember a guild member by the name of David Jacobs. He’s still making money from Knot’s Landing and Dallas. Go ask him.
I’m a reality writer. This is a huge disappointment considering that Patric said at the Fremantle rally that “reality” would be in the next contract. I’ve been walking the picket line like a lot of other writers and most of the ones I talk will be glad it’s off the table because they think it was holding up a deal. There is a lot of ignorance even within the WGA about reality but how much sooner would this strike have ended if FOX and the other big companies couldn’t consider themselves “Strike Proof” because of the revenues they get from their programming like “American Idol.” Reality shows have writers. It amazes me that so many are willing to throw our rights to being treated fairly to the trash heap. So it goes…
“reasonable, competent, bright?” I thought so before, but now? I have to say that this latest WGA missive seems like a naive and even desperate bit of spin.
Another “news blackout.” That worked so well last time. I hope the WGA leadership at least has the common sense to prep their worst case scenario press releases in advance this time. Or are we just hoping that THIS time the AMPTP will act in good faith? Honestly, why would they?
I read in that statement that the WGA has caved on reality and animation and agreed not to picket the Grammy’s. And in return we get … informal talks?
Wow. Looks like AMPTP tactics really do work just fine. Walk away from the table with impunity after demanding six issues be removed without discussion. The WGA cries foul, stews for months, then takes two of the issues off the table and we’re STILL not back to “official” bargaining. How do you mark that in the “win” column?
And walk me through the logic of how not picketing the Grammy’s is down to labor solidarity? By that logic, we shouldn’t picket any productions because it hurts the BTL unions. And picket or no picket, people still GET Grammy’s. We’re not stealing their awards. We can’t keep them from giving them out. They just don’t get a TV show about it. And you know, sorry folks, but it’s a STRIKE.
At least it was. With so many side deals and late night chugging along without writers (wink wink) is there anybody in town who’s not back in business yet?
What makes me angriest is that I think we’re so clearly in the right on the major issues. I think any reasonable person with the facts realizes that, in spite of the blather and spin and smear tactics, it just comes down to naked greed and intransigence by the AMPTP. 2.5% 5% 50% it doesn’t matter. They want it ALL and think they can get it. And in spite of all of that, the best we can manage is non-progress and empty rah rah spin.
On strike for HOW long now. And for this? A fire sale on issues just to restart informal talks? I’m disgusted.
Take reality and animation off the table without any assurance of getting anything in return? oh, good move he said sarcastically.
re the DGA deal: if I’m asked to sign off on anything remotely similar I’m voting no. We need to wait for the actors to join us in June. Till then, no deal. I was in the guld during the ’88 strike and I realize that after three months people just want to get back to work. don’t cave, wait for the actors. vote no.
I suspect there were real concessions on the studios’ side to elicit this move by the WGA.
The next concession will likeley be the sympathy strike clause which is very rarely aquirred in any contract and considered by many unions (including the Teamsters) to be unattainable anyway.
The reality/animation jurisdiction issue would have given the WGA far more leverage than the sympathy strike clause, unfortunately.
I don’t think the general membership realized how important an issue it was to everyone- it wasn’t just about giving certain unrepresented writers benefits– it was about being able to stage effective (and hopefully shorter) strikes in the future.
taking reality and animation off the table as well as not picketing the Grammy’s, is a good strategy. the wga is trying to prepare its ability to say no to the moguls and come out the other side with industry support for an oscar boycott. if that happens, they’ll need to be able to say they went into it by giving something up in good faith, “We gave them reality and animation and they still wouldn’t address our concerns. we’ve been asked to compromise on these issues twice and still nothing in return!”. point being – one has to consider not only the desire to settle but the future strategy should a deal not be reached. if actors and industry folk see the writer’s compromise with reality and animation – support will still be there if talks break down. other benefits include a less vehement IATSE president who no longer has the fuel he needs to badmouth wga’s desire to steal away his beloved jurisdiction. it’s good for the wga to announce these sacrifices publicly so that they have the jump on the perception of compromise going in.
Quick question: when will you be running John Well’s essay, “Why I Plagiarize.”
Or his other one, “Why I wrote a public letter undercutting ten thousand fellow striking writers.”
Rank and file WGA
SOMEBODY please explain it because I really don’t fucking get it.
Animation has been around since the dawn of Hollywood.
Why is it STILL being treated like the retarded cousin we have to hide in the attic when company comes over?!
I’m not thrilled that Reality was taken off the table, but it’s an baby — no, fetal genre compared to Animation.
Why do we still allow the studios to treat Animation writers like this?
I’m fucking sick over it. Somebody please. Give me a rational explanation. I beg you.
LOL, I believe I’ve been saying back in early in December that the AMPTP would NOT negotiate as long reality/animation jurisdiction was on the table. I don’t know how many of you argued with me, but I told you from a pure business standpoint that it was a “non-started”. Paul @ 4:06 says it was dumb for the WGA to take it off the table, because it would give the WGA greater leverage in any future strikes. Well, yeah. That’s exactly why the AMPTP would not and will not even consider such a prospoal. The WGA leaders were aware of this all along but thought they could hold it over the AMPTP’s head to haggle a trade-off somewhere else. I have no idea where the negotiations will go from here, but I stood by my assessment the entire time I;ve been on this board that as long as the WGA asked for jurisdiction and sympathy strikes the AMPTP would not even discuss it.
You have to give the WGA leadership credit, they tried to hit a homerun with this strike but they were out manuevered at almost every turn by the AMPTP. For those of you criticising the leadersjip for removing the issues without getting anything in return… you must understand the AMPTP was not and will not ever negotiate that issue (the WGA tried there best to force it) the only way to move negotiations along was for them to remove it (and that was made perfectly clear to them during those back chanel discussions. So unless you want the strike to drag on for several more months, then you should be applauding their decision to back off that demand.
Now where you can blame the WGA leadership is for selling all their members on the interim deals saying that they were fair deals and would be a template for a future AMPTP deal. They knew that was a lie all along, that is why they had the Favored Nations clauses in them.