Writers Guild Files Labor Complaint Against Tyler Perry’s Production Company

The Writers Guild of America West has filed an unfair labor practice complaint against Tyler Perry's production company, House of Payne LLC, alleging writers for his cable series were fired in retaliation for union activity.


The production company is responsible for the TBS series House of Payne and the upcoming Meet the Browns.

The complaint, filed with the National Labor Relations Board, alleges four writers, head writer Kellie Griffin, Christopher Moore, Teri Brown-Jackson and Lamont Ferrell, were improperly fired. The union states the writers, who have created more than 100 episodes for the cable series, have been trying to organize since April. They were terminated Sept. 30, according to the union.


It also asserts that officials of the company bargained in bad faith with the guild, which is trying to negotiate a contract for the cable series.


The union said the writers will be picketing the grand opening Saturday of Tyler Perry's 28-acre studio complex in Atlanta, and have asked invited guests to respect their picket line.