In the coming days, we'll be running pieces on the proposed contract.
We'll include our own takes on what's good and bad, the official "pro" and "con" statements that will be issued by the Guild, and -- we hope -- op-ed pieces submitted to us here by readers.
Feel free to submit your analyses of the deal points and your opinions about the contract to unitedhollywood@gmail.com. We won't be able to publish everything, but we hope to be able to put a variety of perspectives out there for everyone to consider.
The whole purpose of a 10-day ratification period is to be able to debate and discuss -- so let's make the most of it.
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8 comments:
Did the writing community "settle up" with the AMPTP, or did we get "handled" by their hired thugs?
I'd say it was a bit of both.
I'm not comfortable with watching my brethren quit the field without at least making a counter-offer to The Machine; although I did agree with seeing the strike called off for the time being.
I don't entirely agree with the signal calling off the strike and ratifying this contract will send to SAG. I feel it may be more prudent for the WGA to hold its hand and assist SAG in their own struggle. I see such a strategy as for our mutual benefit. It would also force the effect of a "favored nations" clause, which we deserve. We're writing this story, too.
But what do I know? I'm just Captain Obvious...
There's much to dislike about this contract. The "window" for one, the flat fee (which doesn't rise in the second year--there should've a "step" increase at the very least. Next time go take a look at how teachers and cops--especially back east--structure their contracts, there are always yearly step increases.), and what is clearly a pre-set decrease in the third year (disguised as 2% distributor's rate, but is apparently a cap and which actually goes downward from the flat rate).
And then there's what's missing: Any increase in the DVD rate, the "favorite nations" clause...
I personally think it was a mistake to suspend the strike pending ratification and a closer examination of the "deal." And with the pressure of SAGs talks looming over the Studios, the WGA would've been in a better position to "negotiate" better rates throughout the deal...
And let's note forget the the ratios of Network v. Cable pay rates. Since cable is more profitable, it would follow that increases for writers writing cable shows should've risen to offset the disparity.
There are other troubling issues with the "deal," but this'll for now.
Since his word is bond, I took him at it:
HARLAN ELLISON ON THE WRITERS STRIKE SETTLEMENT
YOU HAVE MY PERMISSION TO RE-POST THIS ANYWHERE:
Creds: got here in 1962, written for just about everybody, won the Writers Guild Award four times for solo work, sat on the WGAw Board twice, worked on negotiating committees, and was out on the picket lines with my NICK COUNTER SLEEPS WITH THE FISHE$$$ sign. You may have heard my name. I am a Union guy, I am a Guild guy, I am loyal. I fuckin’ LOVE the Guild.
And I voted NO on accepting this deal.
My reasons are good, and they are plentiful; Patric Verrone will be saddened by what I am about to say; long-time friends will shake their heads; but this I say without equivocation…
THEY BEAT US LIKE A YELLOW DOG. IT IS A SHIT DEAL.
We finally got a timorous generation that has never had to strike, to get their asses out there, and we had to put up with the usual cowardly spineless babbling horse’s asses who kept mumbling “lessgo bac’ta work” over and over, as if it would make them one iota a better writer. But after months on the line, and them finally bouncing that pus-sucking dipthong Nick Counter, we rushed headlong into a shabby, scabrous, underfed shovelfulla shit clutched to the affections of toss-in-the-towel summer soldiers trembling before the Awe of the Alliance.
My Guild did what it did in 1988. It trembled and sold us out. It gave away the EXACT co-terminus expiration date with SAG for some bullshit short-line substitute; it got us no more control of our words; it sneak-abandoned the animator and reality beanfield hands before anyone even forced it on them; it made nice so no one would think we were meanies; it let the Alliance play us like the village idiot. The WGAw folded like a Texaco Road Map from back in the day.
And I am ashamed of this Guild, as I was when Shavelson was the prexy, and we wasted our efforts and lost out on technology that we had to strike for THIS time. 17 days of streaming tv!!!????? Geezus, you bleating wimps, why not just turn over your old granny for gang-rape?
You deserve all the opprobrium you get. While this nutty festschrift of demented pleasure at being allowed to go back to work in the rice paddy is filling your cowardly hearts with joy and relief that the grips and the staff at the Ivy and street sweepers won’t be saying nasty shit behind your back, remember this:
You are their bitches. They outslugged you, outthought you, outmaneuvered you; and in the end you ripped off your pants, painted yer asses blue, and said yes sir, may I have another.
Please excuse my temerity. I’m just a sad old man who has fallen among Quislings, Turncoats, Hacks and Cowards.
I must go now to whoops. My gorge has become buoyant.
Respectfully, Yr. Pal, Harlan Ellison
I've said it to I'm blue in the face, argued what a really poor deal this is, how deceptive the wording is...
But I'm a nobody, just a working writer on the fringes of the industry (my projects tend run the small/low budget indie route). I've never written for Tv. There's no real reason to listen to me...except, I know about contracts, what makes a good one for labor. And this isn't it.
Harlan said it though: It's a SHIT deal.
Maybe, if we're smart the collective will re-think their WGA vote and come to their senses and scream (and stuff the ballot box), "NO! NO! NO!" and we'll start all over and work ourselves toward a good deal.
But I'm not holding out hope, a weekly paycheck and the security it brings trumps common sense almost everyday.
And the 92.5%ers prove it.
I think I might be with Captain Obvious on this.
If you all vote no on contract ratification, could you work without a contract for a few weeks to months, wait and see what happens with SAG and if SAG has to play hardball then support them up to and including walking the line with them where it is feasible for you to do so?
The reward of working contract-free is that the AMPTP would have to pay you for the time you do work (and there is such a principle in contract law called 'unjust enrichment' but you wouldn't be stuck into the stupid no support strike provisions and would share in any gains SAG makes in DVDs etc by going for most favored nations.
Or am I reading this situation incorrectly.
Precisely what one would expect from Ellison.
From Wikipedia: His friend Isaac Asimov noted that, "Harlan uses his gifts for colorful and variegated invective on those who irritate him — intrusive fans, obdurate editors, callous publishers, offensive strangers."
There is no SUBSTANCE to this rant.
In my humble opinion, what we have here is a hunk of grandstanding nonsense.
Any among us can show off. It's easy. It's Dennis Miller. WHERE'S THE REASONED ARGUMENT? THE THOUGHTFUL ANALYSIS?
I, for one, would welcome a reasoned CON Statement.
God, how I hate this kind of irresponsible, angst-ridden, transparent and utterly superficial form of argument.
Spit and spew all you want, Harlan, but cash those checks for 1.2 percent of distributor's gross EVERY TIME someone rents A BOY AND HIS DOG & BABYLON 5.
Hey, Harlan! Ever collected on rentals before? Unless you're working at Blockbuster, I don't think so.
This is so very non-constructive.
Oy vey.
viad tepes
I'm no Harlan Ellison champion, but the guy makes a valid point about DVds especially.
That sound you hear are hundreds of thousands upon thousands of Blu-Ray DVDs being ripped off the shelves of Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Blockbuster, et al...
It sure would've been nice to get in on that deal at an increased DVD rate.
Angst over the loss of MFN for any DVD gains SAG makes is a waste of emotional energy. SAG is never in a zillion years going to get an increase in the DVD rate, so having it in writing that writers get whatever extra they get means nothing. It would be foolish to vote against the contract on those grounds.
HARLAN ELLISON ON THE WRITERS STRIKE SETTLEMENT
YOU HAVE MY PERMISSION TO RE-POST THIS ANYWHERE:
Creds: got here in 1962, written for just about everybody, won the Writers Guild Award four times for solo work, sat on the WGAw Board twice, worked on negotiating committees, and was out on the picket lines with my NICK COUNTER SLEEPS WITH THE FISHE$$$ sign. You may have heard my name. I am a Union guy, I am a Guild guy, I am loyal. I fuckin’ LOVE the Guild.
And I voted NO on accepting this deal.
My reasons are good, and they are plentiful; Patric Verrone will be saddened by what I am about to say; long-time friends will shake their heads; but this I say without equivocation…
THEY BEAT US LIKE A YELLOW DOG. IT IS A SHIT DEAL. We finally got a timorous generation that has never had to strike, to get their asses out there, and we had to put up with the usual cowardly spineless babbling horse’s asses who kept mumbling “lessgo bac’ta work” over and over, as if it would make them one iota a better writer. But after months on the line, and them finally bouncing that pus-sucking dipthong Nick Counter, we rushed headlong into a shabby, scabrous, underfed shovelfulla shit clutched to the affections of toss-in-the-towel summer soldiers trembling before the Awe of the Alliance.
My Guild did what it did in 1988. It trembled and sold us out. It gave away the EXACT co-terminus expiration date with SAG for some bullshit short-line substitute; it got us no more control of our words; it sneak-abandoned the animator and reality beanfield hands before anyone even forced it on them; it made nice so no one would think we were meanies; it let the Alliance play us like the village idiot. The WGAw folded like a Texaco Road Map from back in the day.
And I am ashamed of this Guild, as I was when Shavelson was the prexy, and we wasted our efforts and lost out on technology that we had to strike for THIS time. 17 days of streaming tv!!!????? Geezus, you bleating wimps, why not just turn over your old granny for gang-rape?
You deserve all the opprobrium you get. While this nutty festschrift of demented pleasure at being allowed to go back to work in the rice paddy is filling your cowardly hearts with joy and relief that the grips and the staff at the Ivy and street sweepers won’t be saying nasty shit behind your back, remember this:
You are their bitches. They outslugged you, outthought you, outmaneuvered you; and in the end you ripped off your pants, painted yer asses blue, and said yes sir, may I have another.
Please excuse my temerity. I’m just a sad old man who has fallen among Quislings, Turncoats, Hacks and Cowards.
I must go now to whoops. My gorge has become buoyant.
Respectfully, Yr. Pal, Harlan Ellison
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