One prevailing principle about how lengthy the writers strike will final is that the WGA can have a framework for their very own contract ought to the studios attain a take care of the Administrators Guild or the Display Actors Guild, leaving the writers on an island. It’s more or less what happened back in 2007-08.
However based on a brand new message from WGA management, that received’t occur this time.
In a message to members on Thursday titled “The AMPTP Playbook Gained’t Work,” the WGA negotiating committee stated that it might not enable the studios to create division among the many unions. And in the event that they need to resolve the strike, which has now gone on for a full month, the studios “should negotiate with the WGA on our full agenda.”
The guild accused the AMPTP of working beneath a “divide and conquer” technique, saying that it particularly put in movement a plan to repeat the template that performed out in 2007-08. Additionally they stated the studios have been “gaslighting” WGA members and making an attempt to create the picture that writers could be “unreasonable” ought to the opposite two guilds attain an settlement.
“Maintain off a take care of the DGA till after the WGA contract expiration date in order that within the occasion of a writers’ strike the AMPTP might drive a DGA sample on the WGA. Even higher if they may additionally sew up a take care of SAG-AFTRA. They’d then declare that the writers have been being unreasonable,” the letter to members reads. “They pretended they couldn’t negotiate with the WGA in Could due to negotiations with the DGA. That’s a lie. It’s a alternative they made in hope of respiratory life into the divide and conquer technique. The essence of the technique is to make offers with some unions and inform the remaining that’s all there’s. It’s gaslighting, and it solely works if unions are divided.”
The WGA although says the unions are rather more united this time round, pointing to a press release of solidarity issued yesterday that was signed by the WGA, SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, and Teamsters 399 in help of the DGA’s talks, in addition to SAG-AFTRA’s name for a strike authorization vote forward of its personal negotiations.
“The AMPTP ought to have made a good take care of writers by Could 1st. However they didn’t, as they’re seemingly intent on persevering with their efforts to destroy the occupation of writing,” the guild stated. “For the final month, writers have adopted within the footsteps of many generations earlier than who went on strike to safe their collective future on this enterprise. We are going to proceed to march till the businesses negotiate pretty with us. We do it now with the help of our sister guilds and unions, and we are going to help them at any time when it’s their flip. The period of divide and conquer is over.”
The DGA’s negotiations are ongoing now, and the guild’s contract expires June 30. SAG’s negotiations begin on June 7 and still have a contract expiring June 30. Whereas the WGA has their very own agenda gadgets distinctive to writers and preserving writing as a occupation in Hollywood, they share priorities with the opposite guilds such because the combat for higher streaming residuals, information transparency, and regulating the usage of AI.
The AMPTP declined to remark.
Learn the total be aware, “The AMPTP Playbook Gained’t Work,” despatched to WGA members on Thursday beneath:
DEAR MEMBERS,
The AMPTP playbook has been to divide and conquer…labor.
The AMPTP was fashioned within the Nineteen Eighties when the trade’s main employers determined they have been uninterested in the many years of positive factors made by unions when partaking in their very own divide and conquer technique – selecting an employer (or employer group) to get a great deal that the remainder of the trade studios needed to comply with.
The AMPTP technique of company unity has been wildly profitable for the businesses. Labor prices have been contained in an trade the place staff have super energy whereas the businesses reaped billions on billions in revenue, yr after yr. Over the past 35 years, there have been solely two strikes – 2007/08 and now.
Whereas the employers have been united, labor has been much less so. Till not too long ago.
Over the past WGA strike, SAG was supportive however relations with a number of the different unions have been strained. Whereas writers have been out on picket strains, the DGA negotiated its personal deal far forward of its contract expiration, which included some (however not all) of the objectives writers sought.
Within the intervening contract cycles, union solidarity in Hollywood was restricted. The DGA negotiated first, far forward of their deadline, and the implicit message from the AMPTP was that the WGA or different unions must strike to get a greater deal than the sample already set.
This bargaining cycle, the trade started beating the strike drum far prematurely of the WGA’s formulation of bargaining calls for, not to mention the beginning of precise negotiations. The AMPTP set a method in movement designed to be a repeat of 2007/08. Divide and conquer. Maintain off a take care of the DGA till after the WGA contract expiration date in order that within the occasion of a writers’ strike the AMPTP might drive a DGA sample on the WGA. Even higher if they may additionally sew up a take care of SAG-AFTRA. They’d then declare that the writers have been being unreasonable.
That technique, nevertheless, is determined by divided unions. This yr is completely different. Each union on the town got here out in help of the WGA, each throughout negotiations and after the beginning of the strike. The DGA has been clear that it’s going through a tricky and important negotiation to handle its members’ wants. Yesterday, we joined a press release together with SAG-AFTRA, IATSE and Teamsters 399 in solidarity with the DGA of their negotiations. SAG-AFTRA is taking a strike authorization vote as they enter negotiations to handle the existential points its members are going through. Teamsters, IATSE, and different leisure union members have been honoring WGA picket strains throughout the nation.
Nonetheless, the AMPTP stays dedicated to its technique.
They pretended they couldn’t negotiate with the WGA in Could due to negotiations with the DGA. That’s a lie. It’s a alternative they made in hope of respiratory life into the divide and conquer technique. The essence of the technique is to make offers with some unions and inform the remaining that’s all there’s. It’s gaslighting, and it solely works if unions are divided.
Our place is evident: to resolve the strike, the businesses should negotiate with the WGA on our full agenda.
The AMPTP ought to have made a good take care of writers by Could 1st. However they didn’t, as they’re seemingly intent on persevering with their efforts to destroy the occupation of writing. For the final month, writers have adopted within the footsteps of many generations earlier than who went on strike to safe their collective future on this enterprise. We are going to proceed to march till the businesses negotiate pretty with us. We do it now with the help of our sister guilds and unions, and we are going to help them at any time when it’s their flip. The period of divide and conquer is over.
IN SOLIDARITY,
WGA NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE
