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ACTION ALERT!
October 3, 2008
To My Fellow Members,Our Guild is engaged in a labor dispute with Tyler Perry’s production company, House of Payne, LLC. Earlier this week, four of the writers on its TBS sitcom House of Payne, who were actively seeking Guild representation, were abruptly fired in violation of federal labor law. A fifth writer has since left the show in solidarity.
The Guild has been negotiating with House of Payne since April. Unfortunately, the company has refused to accept reasonable contract proposals, including payment of residuals. A few weeks ago, the writers, some of them WGAW members, were told by Mr. Perry himself: “Be careful about pushing the WGA deal or you could be replaced.” This warning, the subsequent terminations, and the company’s bad-faith bargaining, are all illegal. Accordingly, we have filed unfair labor practice charges with the NLRB.
House of Payne is an incredibly successful program. According to TBS, the second episode was basic cable’s all-time No. 1 sitcom telecast. House of Payne has generated $200 million in license fees from TBS for 126 episodes and recently sold into syndication on ‘MyNetwork’ for a reported additional $100 million. The House of Payne actors are covered under a Screen Actors Guild contract, and Mr. Perry, who has directed every single episode to date, is covered under a Directors Guild contract. However, House of Payne is one of the only scripted shows on TV that isn’t covered under a WGA contract.
The four terminated House of Payne writers and WGAW staff are right now in Atlanta, preparing to picket the opening of Tyler Perry’s new studio starting tomorrow. They will be joined by Atlanta-area WGAE members, some WGAW members who are leaving L.A. tonight, members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and other supporters. We are asking guests invited to Tyler Perry’s grand opening not to cross our picket line in a show of solidarity with the fired writers.
Many of our fellow members have already responded to media coverage of this injustice with messages of support, asking how they can help. If you would like to show support for these writers, you can send a message to Tyler Perry by clicking here. In the meantime, Guild members are reminded that under Working Rule 8, members of the Writers Guild of America, West may not accept employment with any non-signatory entity, including Tyler Perry studios and all of its related entities. The guild intends to fully enforce this important policy.
Thanks for your attention and your support.
Best,
Patric M. Verrone
President, WGAW
WGA vs Tyler Perry Productions, Contd
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Good letter Patric and I hope the WGA can right this wrong, but I do take issue with this statement.
“However, House of Payne is one of the only scripted shows on TV that isn’t covered under a WGA contract.”
Uh, there are dozens of reality and game shows that aren’t covered. They are scripted, too, whether the companies and networks want to admit it or not.
I think what Tyler Perry is doing/has done is a huge injustice, but not any worse than what Fremantle and other companies have been doing for years. I hope the membership of the guild gets as upset about reality and game abuse as they are about this sitcom.
Mikey
I don’t fully understand why you are making these statements. Please direct me to sources to study what you’re talking about. How is what Mr. Perry is doing an injustice,and how is he breaking the law?
sincerely,
I just want to be informed
“Guild Members are reminded that under Working Rule 8, members of the Writers Guild of America, West may not accept employment at any non-signatory entity, INCLUDING Tyler Perry studios and all of its related entites.”
Does this mean the WGA writers previously employed at Tyler Perry studios but now involved in this dispute were doing so in violation of guild law?
Actually, you can’t send Mr. Perry a message by clicking that link because once you do HIS WEBSITE WILL DELETE IT. I know over ten writers who have done so and their messages were gone within minutes. Other messages from earlier today – dozens – all deleted. WGA should probably start an online petition or think of another way the members can be heard.
I think this just goes to show that no matter how much a person espouses values that promote compassion, fairness, decency, and justice, when it comes down to money, compromises must be made. Unless one budgets for every single person – down to the night janitor – to get a union wage or even a living wage from the start, one could easily resist the significant change in cost that going WGA could bring. He may be worth hundreds of millions, but he also may have every penny allocated to some other project. Increasing their pay might mean cutting something else, like a new show; it could also mean cutting back on the number of gold faucets in his twenty-third yacht. But he doesn’t strike me as the type to not re-invest the profits into his company.
Somebody please explain how WGAW members were working on the show to begin with if TPS does not have a guild contract? TPS could not have violated labor union laws if he never signed a contract, the guild members who were writing for an entity that doesn’t have a guild contract on the other hand…
I still think that a lot of this is the WGA trying to strong-arm Perry into signing a WGA contract. How much of an asshole Perry actually is I can’t say, and won’t doubt that there’s some truth behind some of the claims, but ultimately I just feel the WGA’s trying to get some publicity, and wouldn’t give a crap about the fired writers if Perry had capitulated and signed a WGA contract.
Perry can afford to go union. It’s the right thing to do and it legitimizes his studio. If you want to play with the big boys, you better bring it.
>>Actually, you can’t send Mr. Perry a message by clicking that link because once you do HIS WEBSITE WILL DELETE IT. I know over ten writers who have done so and their messages were gone within minutes. Other messages from earlier today – dozens – all deleted. WGA should probably start an online petition or think of another way the members can be heard.
Comment by Strike girl — October 3, 2008 @ 9:08 pm<<
Tyler’s a Obama loving Democrat. Silencing dissent is the Obama loving Democrat “thing”.
And maybe you should be silent. You sound like a hater. Keep your political/racist disdain to a silent whisper, where you hear yourself only.
Three of those writers were guild members, working a non-union contract. Hmm…
I’m personally boycotting all things Tyler Perry until he makes House of Payne a WGA show and rights the wrongs he has perpetrated against these writers, and suggest everyone else do the same.
Here’s a start: http://www.boycott-tylerperry.com
A wider boycott is the next logical step. Reverends Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are well-known and strong labor/union advocates. They should be contacted forthwith.
Another perfect example of WGA writers taking jobs away from non WGA writers. Why are these WGA writers working on a non union show? WELL? That’s against the rules. Why aren’t these writers being held accountable for this rather than having the guild (the same guild that should be kicking them out) standing up for them?
Crystal, pay attention to the fine print. The four writers had enough qualifications to become WGA members, filed to become them, and assumed Perry would accomodate them after they were unionized. He didn’t, he fired them illegally.
And there have been plenty of testimonies from former workers at Perry’s office attesting his… ahem, unwillingness to give his workers fair pay and compensation before the WGA cracked down on him. Not to mention his working them like dogs.
And people are treating unions with scorn… why? Some people need the support to get fair compensation and pay to get by with the jobs they have (like coal mining, acting, directing and surprise surprise, screenwriting).
Doesn’t matter if “House of Payne” is a horrible show or not, the writers need to be fairly compensated since they did help Perry make his millions. Fair is fair.
idiots. they signed non union contracts and now want them to go with the wga. it seems that is a choice thing. and if they don’t want to hire people under a wga contract, they don’t have to.
I’m just saying… They do have to hire them under a WGA contract if the majority of the workers want it, actually. Unionization is sorta supposed to be the choice of the employee, not the employer.
Matt,
The previous letter about this clearly said that at least one of the writers was a “WGA member”. I couldn’t give a shit if he/she/it switched to being a WGA member the day before he/she/it was fired. The point is that he/she/it was a WGA member working on a non union program which is AGAINST THE RULES OF THE WGA! Expecting your non union employer to throw his legs in the air and become a WGA signatory just because you and your cronies decided to become WGA members is a bit fucking much. These writers should have either stayed non union and continued working for Perry or else join the WGA and go work for someone who is WGA. Don’t become WGA and then continue picking up a check from a non union show. Is that more clear for you, dear?
Mr. Tyler Perry I say Shake it off because those people couldn’t keep a GOOD man down. THIS IS HISTORY IN THE MAKING AND KEEP MAKING HISTORY. At the end of 2008 we will have many more things to celebrate. THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN MAN TO OWN HIS VERY OWN STUDIO AND THE FIRST AFICAN AMERICAN PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. Give GOD all the GLORY.
<>
The National Labor Relations Act, the law of the land, gives employees the right to be represented by a union if a majority so choose. It is not up to the employer. It is illegal for an employer to require employees to agree not to unionize as a condition of employment – a so-called “yellow dog contract”.
And an employer cannot discriminate against prospective employees because of their union membership. So it is perfectly legal for WGA members to take employment with a non-WGA employer, and then do their best to get the employer to go union. As for the WGA’s working rules, if members are offered jobs by a non-WGA employer, they are obliged to let the WGA know about it, and it is within the WGA’s right to decide to let them take the jobs on the condition they do everything they can to organize their fellow writers and get the employer to sign with the WGA. Or if the WGA finds members working on a non-WGA show, the union has to decide whether to discipline them for breaking union rules, or to ask them to work to unionize the show. It’s all about how to best represent the interests of writers and members. Most companies become union because employees work with a union to organize their fellow employees from the inside. You didn’t think the employers went union out of the goodness of their hearts, did you? Or that they have the right to deny the wishes of the majority of their employees who want to be represented by a union?
I’ve had the same experience with Mr.Perry, it’s one thing to talk the talk and another to walk the walk. God has no respect of persons. And instead of verbalizing how Godly we are just do as the bible say’s and do unto other’s. People are tired of pretender’s using God as an scapegoat. That totally dishonor’s the very trinity itself. I know we all have fault’s and fall short, but to whom much is given, much is required. Who you know is not as important as who you serve. Do right by people and these problems won’t persist. He should take some of his own advice. You can’t fool everyone, some of us have our eyes wide open. And you definitely can’t fool the almighty God, who just in case you’ve forgotten (really) is why you’re where you are today.God first, your celebrity friends and supporter’s second. Sounds like the right way!!
Legalized discrimination – where blacks were prevented, often through violence, from owning property, or loans were not granted to African-American business owners, or black homeowners could not access FHA mortgages, or BLACKS WERE EXCLUDED FROM UNIONS… meant that black families could not amass any meaningful wealth to bequeath to future generations.”
–From Obama Race Speech
(March 18, 2008)
Hi, Mr.Perry
I really enjoy your show and movies. It’s my dream to work for your company. It is my dream to write and direct and produce my plays .But i would love to start work for your company as stages hands.I know that you get million email daily. I just need the chance too prove myself.Could you email me when you need stage hands
Thank You,
Not much of a comment but my real life story that may help in the destruction of the American Black Family, to my Beliefe and Faith in the most high I believe this to be a true to life story that should be told if not more but for an insight for those who refuse to see their own responsibility in many situation of their failure and bleek hope instilled in the ones to follow.
Have made attempts to have my story told as it goes on way beyond my controll, by I have been able to reach out and help others realize and idealize the consiquences of their actions if a possitive change is not made sooner than later…
I know times are busy for you, if at all possible please take a moment to look into this heartfelt picture of my life and many lives of the Black American Families.