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Here’s what a Warner Bros spoksperson is telling me on the record: “These WARN notices were sent because in certain circumstances federal and California law can require employers to give notice of staffing changes. Due to the ongoing WGA work stoppage, some studio divisions will have to lay off employees. We regret the impact this will have on our employees, and we hope to bring them back to work once the WGA strike ends.”
I’m told that Warner Bros sent ”WARN” letters to the studio’s facilities employees. The studio has to do this by law to put them on notice. My sources say this doesn’t necessarily mean that they will get laid off and it doesn’t mean all of them will. Also, it’s possible that layoffs would be temporary. But people who’ve seen the letters say those laid off will be notified on Monday. It also says the studio won’t guarantee that those laid off will be rehired after the strike. In any case, it’s rotten news. Which is why Warner Bros and the AMPTP need to get back to negotiating!
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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for what it’s worth, the writers (and I am one) will also never benefit from what we’re fighting for. Each and every one of us is already beyond the point in this fucking strike where the gains outweigh the potential winnings. And when I say potential winnings, it’s becoming clearer and clearer to me that we’re going to LOSE this thing. Like in a big, embarrassing way. And then we really will all be in the same boat, won’t we?
Also, my four year old son wants me to put the following in: “Nick Counter. 399, I don’t want you back. For ever again. I don’t like you, Nick Counter. I don’t like you because you’re a bad guy!” And then, dancing, he adds, “We don’t like you! We don’t like you!” Take it for what it’s worth.
Wow, at least they get a letter before getting punked. At Radford they kicked everyone out then mailed a ridiculous letter to say we “may” be laid off. Another classy day in Hollywood. Frisbee golf anyone?
whatever side you support, everyone should agree that crippling an entire industry is not a smart play. we are all in this together…
Confused–
I think they refer to this stage of the process as “Passing the savings along to you.”
The WGA leadership should show up to a suitable meeting place EVERY morning at 9a with an open, public invite for the AMPTP to join them. We can steal a page from the Civil Rights Movement in the 60′s… our “sit-in” with draw the press.
And we will see how long the AMPTP can handle that.
I agree with Jimmy (of the very first post) – the little guys, usually the people who do the actual WORK for the studios/divisions are always the first to get the axe. Paycuts and payroll cuts never hit the useless portion of the studio workforce, management. Studios are always top heavy in terms of management. I have been laid off and then rehired (because someone needed to know how to work) by the studios many times myself.
Even the highest paid writer doesn’t pull down what a useless exec does per year. Why do you have cash for them, but not working people?
Just meet with the WGA already, you are going to have to settle eventually .Just PAY THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE PRODUCT! You all are supposed to be the business people in this town – since you aren’t good at that ….what exactly is your job? What ARE studio execs good at? Aren’t you supposed to be DEALMAKERS? Well, make a DEAL already.
The whole town is pissed at you AMPTP. This strike didn’t have to happen. Look at the UK writers union – they just settled on an amount for their online royalties, no problem, no strike needed. Very businesslike. Easy peasy. The studios are the problem here. How greedy must you be to shoot the business in the foot like this?
MAKE A DEAL AMPTP
Douchezero – Many studio folks would love to have a union. But many jobs are rigged so that union membership is out of the question. These are companies that hire “perma temps” so they don’t have to pay benefits – they break existing labor laws all the time.I back the WGA in this as I see what the powers that be are trying to do to the people who do the work in Hollywood. This is all happening because the writers are faceless, unlike the actors, and because their contract came up first. They are just the first union to try to negotiate, so they are getting beaten up so that the rest of us will think twice before we speak up. That’s the way it’s always been with bullies, I mean studios. The writers are the low man on the above the line totem pole, I get that. Often they pull down less than crew, whether the crew wants to believe that or not. They are hurting as much as anyone.
I don’t blame the writers, they want to be paid for their work, the same as anyone. Unions exist for a reason in this town, as the studios are making clear.
Just a follow up to Network Executive’s comments. I’m having trouble finding any rationale why the members of the AMPTP are not even interested in negotiatiing. I mean there has to be at least one reason; what is it?
Unless these guys are so out of touch with reality and are the types who enjoy kicking puppies (which I suspect many of them do), what is really going on? Maybe the internet is bigger game than all of us realize right now – and they know it – and don’t want to set a precedent to give the talent an equitable share of the profits.
Before H-town and the whole industry goes down in flames like the end of The Day of Locust, the WGA definitely needs to align with the politcal rallies and the ‘change’ movement, stressing the need for the middle class to fight back. Maybe McCain or Obama can lead the choir on this.
The lack of business knowledge that gets exposed in the comment sections of these blogs shows me why my guild went out on this suicidal strike. Trust me people if the stock priceds of these companies were dropping the execs would be at the table in a heartbeat and a deal would be done. The reality is that American Gladiators was huge and that will be dwarfed next monday when American Idol returns. No one is shoving these shows down viewers throats. Idol has been the biggest thing on television for five years. I just cant believe that you guys don’t see how hated the writers have become. I am on a studio lot every day and no one is hating the studios. They are all blaming the “greedy” writers. But keep drinking that Patric Verrone Kool-aid.
WGA Strike = Layoffs At Warner Bros
Um, shouldn’t the headline be…
AMPTP failure to negotiate in good faith = Layoffs at Warner Bros
I know it’s less catchy, but it’s a lot more accurate!
I agree that the layoffs are due to the AMPTP’s unwillingness to negotiate. It’s unfair that the media is portraying all these losses on the WGA.