This was sent out today by the WGA:
LOS ANGELES and NEW YORK – The membership of the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) today voted overwhelmingly in favor of lifting the restraining order and ending their 100-day strike that began on Nov. 5. 3,775 writers turned out in Los Angeles and New York to cast ballots or fax in proxies, with 92.5% voting in favor of ending the work stoppage.
“The strike is over. Our membership has voted, and writers can go back to work,” said Patric M. Verrone, president of the Writers Guild of America, West. “This was not a strike we wanted, but one we had to conduct in order to win jurisdiction and establish appropriate residuals for writing in new media and on the Internet. Those advances now give us a foothold in the digital age. Rather than being shut out of the future of content creation and delivery, writers will lead the way as TV migrates to the Internet and platforms for new media are developed.”
“The success of this strike is a significant achievement not only for ourselves but the entire creative community, now and in the future,” said Michael Winship, president of the Writers Guild of America, East. “The commitment and solidarity of our members made it happen and have been an inspiration not only to us but the entire organized labor movement. We will build on that energy and unity to make our two unions stronger than ever.”
WGAW and WGAE members will next vote to ratify the tentative three-year contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The membership ratification vote will be conducted by mail and also at membership meetings on February 25, 2008.
2/12/2008
WGA Members Vote to End Strike
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13 comments:
I take it there were no hanging chads. Does 92.5 percent count as decisive?
Let me be the first to say congratulations! It has been an honor to do my small part to support you all during this difficult time. God Bless
You mean to tell me that out of 10,000 plus members, only 3775 actually voted?
Congratulations to all the Writers on a new deal.
Thanks to everyone at United Hollywood for providing this forum for news and debate throughout these tough 100 days.
You guys and gals worked untold hours to keep the site up to date, accurate, and fair.
As a guy with an often dissenting opinion, I probably benefited more from your policy of "rational debate and discussion from any perspective is welcome" than a lot of other commenters may have liked, so I am especially grateful to you for keeping the gates open.
John, Laeta, Kate, davidj,David, Lew's Plumber, Jeffrey, artdeptgirl, John, DJ, UH -- you've done a great job and provided an incredible service. Thank you.
Attaboy's all around, too, to everyone who voted to end the Strike!
Get to work tomorrow on some really amazing material which will make the Studios realize more than ever before how much they need you! :)
Looking forward to the next generation of United Hollywood (and closing down DH)!
The full recording of the press conference this evening with Patric Verrone can be found on my blog: StrikeChronicles.com.
Dear WGA Members:
Congratulations on your 100-day show of SOLIDARITY. Your unity and the stand you've taken for justice and recognition of the work you do represents a victory for labor and unionism.
The membership of our union will look to the membership of the WGA as we work toward Shared Rewards within the aviation industry as well.
Again, Congratulations!
In Solidarity,
Darren Shiroma, Local President
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA
UAL Council 12 - Los Angeles
www.afalax.org
Congratulations on your hard-fought contract. I anticipate your work returning to our screens and reminding the nation how very much you were missed. I am happy to put my own Guild strike shirt away for good -- my students were tired of seeing it, anyway, I think.
In solidarity from an FFT member...
I imagined lots of drinking earlier from members - partying or despairing, some corks must have popped.
Everyone be safe out there!
"You mean to tell me that out of 10,000 plus members, only 3775 actually voted?"
pj,
In our last contract vote, out of roughly 4,000 members of Local 52, IATSE, only about 1,200 voted. In any of our elections it seems to be the same 700-1,000 folks voting. Everybody-else just complains for the next three years! lol!
Waddaya gonna do?
d.
While I would have loved to see you get a better deal, I want to offer my congrats on the strike ending. We fans can't wait to see all of your new and inspiring works.
Don't forget the solidarity you had throughout this thing even though the strike is over.
-Rubberpoultry
Congratulations to all. But as others have said, in particular I'd like to thank UH and the people who run it for providing this resource. There were many interesting strike-related blogs around the web, but there can be no doubt that UH was the beating heart at the center that helped tie it all together.
Bravo, people, bravo.
I just want to say that even though I'm one of the 7.5%ers, I'm still proud as hell that the WGA leadership (Patric, David, John, et al) stood up when it counted.
Am I disappointed that more wasn't achieved? Sure. Nonetheless, those guys did a fine job and I'm pleased to be in the same Guild.
Next time, hopefully with their strong leadership even more will be gained.
Has the actual deal been posted? I know there was one posted right before the strike...is that what was ratified?
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