WGA Accuses Studios Of Dragging Their Feet In Talks
Writers Still Awaiting AMPTP Counter-Proposal To Tuesday’s Offer
By Linda Moss -- Multichannel News, 12/7/2007 4:30:00 AM
TV writers Friday denied that they are stalling contract negotiations, and said the studios shouldn’t use that false charge as an excuse to cut off bargaining to end a five-week-old strike.
Striking a pre-emptive blow, the Writers Guild of America sent a letter to members addressing reports in publications such as the Los Angeles Times and Variety, which noted the slow pace of the talks and suggested that the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers might cut off talks today.
“We’ve heard that one or more of the companies are prepared to throw away the spring and fall TV season, plus features, and prolong the strike,” Michael Winship and Patric Verrone, presidents of the WGA East and West, respectively, said in their message to members Friday.
“Aside from the devastating effect this would have on the unions, workers and their families in this industry, it would certainly explain the AMPTP’s refusal to put any new proposals, even a bad one, on the table,” the WGA leaders said.
“Also, highly placed executives have been telling some of our writers that the companies are preparing to abruptly cut off negotiations,” the letter said. “They say the companies plan to accuse the WGA of stalling and being unwilling to negotiate, and that the companies will use that as an excuse to walk out. The Writers Guilds of America, East and West are going on record now that any such claims are absolutely untrue.”
The WGA said it’s been bargaining in good faith, and vowed to negotiate “through the Christmas and New Years holidays - whatever is necessary - to get this done and get the town back to work.”
In its letter, the WGA accused the AMPTP of dragging its feet for not coming up with a counter proposal to an offer the union made Tuesday.
“They told us they would have new proposals for us Thursday,” the WGA said. “On Thursday, we met at 10 a.m., and they told us their new proposals would be ready shortly. At 5 p.m. they told us their proposals still weren’t ready, that they would be working on them late into the night, and that we should come back this morning at 10 a.m. The fact that we saw everyone from the AMPTP leave the building by 6:45 p.m. is not a promising sign, but we will be at the table at 10 a.m. this morning, ready to receive their new proposal.”
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Turn Off Your TV and Internet Shows
It appears that the only way to get the AMPTP to understand the power of the Labor Minded America and world at large is to hit them where it hurts, and that is in their pockets. As they have done to all of us who work in the industry. True, the WGA offers loans to its members to get them through this crises, however, the remainder of the industry does not have this opportunity. People are going hungry and without medication. Yes, in the great State of California in the United States of America, people who have nothing to gain or lose by the outcome of the negotiations are the ones who are paying the dearest price.
TV stars jumped to the occasion to rapidly shut their shows down in solidarity, and in part in a fleeting moment for some free "PR" and news feeds. Let's call it what it really is, I know, I've been to all of the rallies in support myself, and watched as all of those interviews took place as close as two feet away. Not to diminish their shining moment or their sincerity, but time and again I was dissappointed about the lack of extended insight after a minute or two of their speaking. I myself know how one can forget and go blank when a microphone is shoved in your face, but when you write a speech please make sure you have a couple of qualified intelligent people read it for you first.
Again, for the AMPTP, you have time and again tried to take the pie for yourself. Everyday comes new technologies. As I wrote in my movie contracts as a performer, that my percentages would be based on all current and future technologies, forms of distributions, and physical hard copy formats, whether currently invented, currently in use, or not. I rewrite and modify all of my contracts. To leave it to others is leaving a door open for strangers to enter and remove your belongings and your future. To the AMPTP, everyone deserves a piece of the pie, the most fortunate thing that exists is that with everyday we get a new pie. The Internet is another pie, tomorrow is another day.
When it comes to money, I once heard Bette Davis say that "we never would have asked for so much money if Jack Warner hadn't been so mean!" Recalling the reason movie stars made so much money anyway, her further recallection was, "We never expected that they would give it to us!" That said, the more mean, you- the AMPTP, the more mean you are to us now, the more we, "all of the industry," will ask of you in the future when you need us most. Like Elephants, we never forget.
America and the world at large, turn off your internet programs, and if need be, turn off your televisions too.
Peppi Turco
Hollywood, California
Peppi Turco - 12/9/2007 12:13:00 AM EST -
The studios are just trying to stick it to the writers, and I'm not sure why. The numbers have been published as to what it would cost the studios if they agreed to the writers demands, and it peanuts in the grand scheme of things.
The problem is the executives will keep getting paid while all the rank and file workers are laid off, so they don't care I suppose. Thank goodness for the internet and gaming. TV's audience will continue to shrink. Good move studios, sigh...
Chris - 12/8/2007 12:49:00 AM EST -
The studios are just trying to stick it to the writers, and I'm not sure why. The numbers have been published as to what it would cost the studios if they agreed to the writers demands, and it peanuts in the grand scheme of things.
The problem is the executives will keep getting paid while all the rank and file workers are laid off, so they don't care I suppose. Thank goodness for the internet and gaming. TV's audience will continue to shrink. Good move studios, sigh...
Chris - 12/8/2007 12:49:00 AM EST
Striking WGA Sets Weekend Member Meetings
02/05/2008Writers, Studios To Resume Talks Nov. 26
11/18/2007WGA, Studios Trade Shots Over Stalled Talks
12/07/2007WGA Denies Deal With Studios
02/03/2008
