Assembly for the primary time in additional than three months, the Writers Guild and the AMPTP on Friday failed to succeed in an settlement to renew contract negotiations. Their lack of ability to agree on phrases for returning to the bargaining desk comes after their a lot anticipated assembly to debate a attainable resumption of talks.
“As of now, there is no agreement on these items, because the AMPTP said they needed to consult with their member studios before moving forward,” the union mentioned in a press release late Friday.
Right here is the complete assertion from the WGA Negotiating Committee:
DEAR MEMBERS,
Ellen Stutzman and Tony Segall met with Carol Lombardini and AMPTP employees this afternoon for what Carol said was a confidential sidebar to debate resuming negotiations for a brand new MBA. Matters included – on the AMPTP’s insistence – press blackouts. Additionally mentioned was a possible negotiation protocol and a preview of the problems both sides intends to deliver again to the desk upon resumption.
As of now, there is no such thing as a settlement on this stuff, as a result of the AMPTP mentioned they wanted to seek the advice of with their member studios earlier than transferring ahead.
Our intention after the confidential assembly was to ship a easy e mail to you all letting you understand we’d get again to you when there was extra particular details about resuming negotiations.
Nevertheless, earlier than the negotiating committee even had an opportunity to satisfy, our communications division started listening to from the trades asking for feedback on studio-leaked rumors of the contents of the confidential assembly. That is after the AMPTP spent a lot of the assembly emphasizing the necessity for a press blackout.
For the reason that studios are leaking to the press we have to let you understand what was mentioned within the assembly.
First, Carol knowledgeable us that the DGA deal can be the deal on any sample points.
She said they have been prepared to extend their provide on a couple of writer-specific TV minimums – and prepared to speak about AI – however that they weren’t prepared to interact on the preservation of the writers’ room, or success-based residuals. She didn’t point out willingness to deal with screenwriter points, Appendix A points, and most of the different proposals that stay on our checklist.
On behalf of the Guild, Ellen reiterated the expectation that every one the elemental points over which writers have been putting these previous three months can be addressed on this new contract, and that no section of the membership can be left behind.
Ellen made clear that, along with a complete response from the AMPTP on our proposals in all work areas, we might want to tackle points arising from the strike, together with a well being care profit extension and extra plan funding, reinstatement of putting writers, and arbitration of disputes arising throughout the strike. We will even search the correct for particular person WGA members to honor different unions’ picket traces as they’ve honored ours throughout this strike.
Carol’s response – one thing she repeated 3 times throughout the assembly – echoes what was written within the AMPTP press assertion yesterday: “People just want to get back to work.”
We agree, with the caveat that these circumstances which have made writers’ jobs more and more untenable should first be addressed.
Your committee stays prepared to interact with the businesses and resume negotiations in good religion to make a good deal for all writers, even with this early affirmation that the AMPTP playbook continues. However relaxation assured, this committee doesn’t intend to go away anybody behind, or make merely an incremental deal to conclude this strike.
IN SOLIDARITY,
WGA NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE
The information comes a day after the WGA Negotiating Committee slammed the studios and streamers for enjoying video games, spreading disinformation and utilizing the identical previous “tired playbook” in labor relations.
In a press release to members Thursday, the guild mentioned the “companies have wasted months on their same failed strategy.”
“We’re not falling for it. Writers … have marched together for 94 days now. We have struck to make writing a viable profession for all of us, now and in the future. We have not come all this way, and sacrificed this much, to half-save ourselves,” it added. “Therefore, we challenge the studios and AMPTP to come to the meeting they called for this Friday with a new playbook: Be willing to make a fair deal and begin to repair the damage your strikes and your business practices have caused the workers in this industry.”
The AMPTP later responded by saying the assembly about assembly was to “whether we have a willing bargaining partner”. “The WGA Bargaining Committee’s rhetoric is unfortunate. This strike has hurt thousands of people in this industry, and we take that very seriously. Our only playbook is getting people back to work,” it added.
It’s been a busy day in LA for the strikes; a picket hosted by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA noticed 1000’s of writers and actors descend outdoors of NBCUniversal to rejoice new sidewalks with many protestors seeping into the streets.
LA Mayor Karen Bass additionally weighed in, saying that the assembly was “an encouraging development especially as this historic moment continues to have profoundly negative impacts on our economy and many of our community members” and that she was ““ready to personally engage” to succeed in a decision if required.
