2008 MBA RATIFICATION — MEMBER INFORMATIONAL MEETING
All WGAW members who have questions about the tentative contract are encouraged to attend a special informational meeting where senior staff and elected officials will review the deal terms and address members’ questions and concerns. The meeting will take place on Thursday, February 21, 7 pm - 9 pm at Sportsman’s Lodge, 12825 Ventura Blvd, Studio City 91604. RSVP Thomas Griffin at tgriffin@wga.org or 323-782-4868.
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD — VOTE ON THE NEW CONTRACT
Current-Active WGAW members in good standing may cast their votes for the new contract in one of three ways: by mail, by proxy or in person at the special membership meeting on Monday, February 25. Complete details are in the voting materials.
You can see an electronic version of the voting materials, including pro and con statements, by going to the following link: http://www.wga.org/subpage_secure.aspx?id=2772
Ballots and related materials have been mailed out. If you did not receive the ratification mailing, please contact Jennifer Burt at jburt@wga.org or 323-782-4569. You can also download ratification materials and proxy forms from the WGAW website, www.wga.org.
Showing posts with label Contract Updates. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Contract Updates. Show all posts
2/20/2008
2/14/2008
Upcoming Ratification Vote
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.
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.
2/12/2008
Letter from The Presidents to Membership
This was sent today to WGA members from Presidents Verrone and Winship:
To Our Fellow Members:
On Tuesday, members of the Writers Guilds East and West voted by a 92.5% margin to lift the restraining order that was invoked on November 5th. The strike is over.
Writing can resume immediately. If you were employed when the strike began, you should plan to report to work on Wednesday. If you're not employed at an office or other work site, call or e-mail your employer that you are resuming work. If you have been told not to report to work or resume your services, we recommend that you still notify your employer in writing of your availability to do so. Questions concerning return-to-work issues should be directed to the WGAW legal department at 323.782.4521 or the WGAE’s assistant executive director Ann Toback at 212-767-7823.
The decision to begin this strike was not taken lightly and was only made after no other reasonable alternative was possible. We are profoundly aware of the economic loss these fourteen weeks have created not only for our members but so many other colleagues who work in the television and motion picture industries. Nonetheless, with the establishment of the WGA jurisdiction over new media and residual formulas based on distributor’s gross revenue (among other gains) we are confident that the results are a significant achievement not only for ourselves but the entire creative community, now and in the future.
We hope to build upon the extraordinary energy, ingenuity, and solidarity that were generated by your hard work during the strike.
Over the next weeks and months, we will be in touch with you to discuss and develop ways we can use our unprecedented unity to make our two guilds stronger and more effective than ever.
Now that the strike has ended, there remains the vote to ratify the new contract. Ballots and information on the new deal, both pro and con, will be mailed to you shortly. You will be able to return those ballots via mail or at a membership meeting to be held Monday, February 25th, 2008, at times and locations to be determined.
Thank you for making it possible. As ever, we are all in this together.
Best,
Patric M. Verrone
President, WGAW
Michael Winship
President, WGAE
WGA Members Vote to End Strike
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.
2/11/2008
Instructions on Voting By Proxy -- With Designated Voters Just For You!
From tonight's captains' bulletin:
To cast your ballot in person: Vote at the Writers Guild Theater, 135 S. Doheny Drive 90211. Tuesday, February 12, 2008 from 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm.
If members can't cast a ballot in person: Proxy ballots are available. To vote by proxy, download this form and fax to 323-421-9177. Proxies must be faxed in by Tuesday February 12, by 2 pm, or dropped off at the WGAW office at 7000 West Third Street by 2 pm. Or you may vote by giving a written proxy to any other WGAW member entitled to vote who will be present at the February 12th vote. For further details and instructions check the proxy form.
To vote YES by proxy: if you wish, you may designate WGAW member Patric Verrone, who is willing to collect and vote proxies for any members who want to vote YES. Patric will vote your proxy at the meeting on Tuesday, February 12.
To vote NO by proxy: if you wish, you may designate either WGAW member David Anthony or WGAW member Christian Trokey. Both of them are willing to collect and vote proxies for any members who want to vote NO. They will vote the proxies at the meeting on Tuesday, February 12.
Results of the vote will be emailed to members and posted on the WGA website on Tuesday night after the votes are tallied.
WGAE Instructions: Membership Vote to End Strike scheduled for Tuesday, February 12th, 4:00pm - 7:00pm, Crowne Plaza Hotel, 1605 Broadway at 49th St., NYC.
(UPDATE added by KP)
If WGAE members are voting by proxy, the should fax their proxy to the attention of Kelly O'Brien at 212-582-1909.
Also, two strike captains in the East have agreed to be proxy voters. You can fill in either Bill Scheft or Susan Kim as your proxy, and they will vote on your behalf. Contact them through email to let them know how you want to vote.
Bill Scheft: tolscheft@yahoo.com
Susan Kim: susan.kim@earthlink.net
Download WGAE Proxy Form (pdf)
Prior to Membership Vote, from 3:00pm to 4:00pm, the WGAE will hold an informational meeting to answer questions on the vote or the tentative agreement. WGAE Leaders will remain available to answer member questions until 5:00pm.
To cast your ballot in person: Vote at the Writers Guild Theater, 135 S. Doheny Drive 90211. Tuesday, February 12, 2008 from 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm.
If members can't cast a ballot in person: Proxy ballots are available. To vote by proxy, download this form and fax to 323-421-9177. Proxies must be faxed in by Tuesday February 12, by 2 pm, or dropped off at the WGAW office at 7000 West Third Street by 2 pm. Or you may vote by giving a written proxy to any other WGAW member entitled to vote who will be present at the February 12th vote. For further details and instructions check the proxy form.
To vote YES by proxy: if you wish, you may designate WGAW member Patric Verrone, who is willing to collect and vote proxies for any members who want to vote YES. Patric will vote your proxy at the meeting on Tuesday, February 12.
To vote NO by proxy: if you wish, you may designate either WGAW member David Anthony or WGAW member Christian Trokey. Both of them are willing to collect and vote proxies for any members who want to vote NO. They will vote the proxies at the meeting on Tuesday, February 12.
Results of the vote will be emailed to members and posted on the WGA website on Tuesday night after the votes are tallied.
WGAE Instructions: Membership Vote to End Strike scheduled for Tuesday, February 12th, 4:00pm - 7:00pm, Crowne Plaza Hotel, 1605 Broadway at 49th St., NYC.
(UPDATE added by KP)
If WGAE members are voting by proxy, the should fax their proxy to the attention of Kelly O'Brien at 212-582-1909.
Also, two strike captains in the East have agreed to be proxy voters. You can fill in either Bill Scheft or Susan Kim as your proxy, and they will vote on your behalf. Contact them through email to let them know how you want to vote.
Bill Scheft: tolscheft@yahoo.com
Susan Kim: susan.kim@earthlink.net
Download WGAE Proxy Form (pdf)
Prior to Membership Vote, from 3:00pm to 4:00pm, the WGAE will hold an informational meeting to answer questions on the vote or the tentative agreement. WGAE Leaders will remain available to answer member questions until 5:00pm.
WGA Calls For Pro And Con Statements on MBA Ratification
This was sent out to members by the WGA today:
PRO AND CON MEMBER STATEMENTS
on Ratification of the Proposed 2008 MBA
Rules for Members of WGA East (WGAE) and WGA West (WGAW)
In keeping with our tradition of encouraging a free flow of ideas and opinions among the membership, the Current members in good standing have the opportunity to submit statements supporting or opposing ratification of the proposed 2008 MBA. The Guilds will mail statements submitted by at least ten members at no charge to all voting members of WGAE and WGAW. The Guilds will also post these and other member statements and their websites, in accordance with the rules below.
· Any 10 or more members in good standing who are eligible to vote on the 2008 MBA may submit a pro or con statement relating to ratification of the proposed contract. The requirement of ten or more members may be met by any combination of voting members of WGAW or WGAE.
· Statements must be delivered to WGAW or WGAE headquarters in “camera-ready” condition no later than 12:00 Noon (local time) on Thursday, February 14, 2008. This deadline is firm. Statements received after the deadline will NOT be included in the mailing. Please read the attached deadline policy.
· There is no fee for copying or mailing. Both Guilds will mail these statements to the combined WGAW WGAE membership for free. The statements will also be posted on the Guilds’ websites. Statements submitted by fewer than 10 Current members in good standing will only be posted on the websites.
· Camera-ready statements may be any length on letter-sized pages (8½” x 11”).
· The names of 10 or more Current members in good standing endorsing each statement must appear directly on the statements submitted to the Guild. These names will appear on the statement mailed to the membership and will be posted on the web sites.
· Members’ signatures in legible form must be submitted to the WGAW or WGAE by the February 14, 2008 deadline, either on the statements themselves, or on separate papers, letters or correspondence.
· Camera-ready statements and supporting signatures submitted through WGAW should be delivered to WGAW, attention Jennifer Burt, 7000 W. Third St., LA, CA 90048. They may be delivered (1) in person; (2) by mail; (3) by email to jburt@wga.org; and by fax to (323) 782-4801. (Note that statements will not be re-typed at the Guild, and will be considered camera-ready as received.)
· Camera-ready statements and supporting signatures submitted through WGAE should be delivered to WGAE, attention Geoff Betts, 555 West 57th St., New York, NY 10019. They may be delivered (1) in person; (2) by mail; (3) by email to GBetts@wgaeast.org and by fax to (212) 582-1909. (Note that statements will not be re-typed at the Guild, and will be considered camera-ready as received.)
· For the Guilds’ mailing and website posting, the order of statements within each category, pro and con, will be determined by lot.
Please note: The Guilds do not check whether the writers whose signatures are submitted as endorsing a pro or con statement have actually consented to the use of their names in connection with that statement.
All member statements are the responsibility of the individuals making them, rather than the Guilds, and they do not necessarily reflect the views of the WGAW and WGAE, or their respective elected officials or staffs.
For a summary of the tentative agreement, please visit: http://www.wga.org/contract_07/wga_tent_summary.pdf
PRO AND CON MEMBER STATEMENTS
on Ratification of the Proposed 2008 MBA
Rules for Members of WGA East (WGAE) and WGA West (WGAW)
In keeping with our tradition of encouraging a free flow of ideas and opinions among the membership, the Current members in good standing have the opportunity to submit statements supporting or opposing ratification of the proposed 2008 MBA. The Guilds will mail statements submitted by at least ten members at no charge to all voting members of WGAE and WGAW. The Guilds will also post these and other member statements and their websites, in accordance with the rules below.
· Any 10 or more members in good standing who are eligible to vote on the 2008 MBA may submit a pro or con statement relating to ratification of the proposed contract. The requirement of ten or more members may be met by any combination of voting members of WGAW or WGAE.
· Statements must be delivered to WGAW or WGAE headquarters in “camera-ready” condition no later than 12:00 Noon (local time) on Thursday, February 14, 2008. This deadline is firm. Statements received after the deadline will NOT be included in the mailing. Please read the attached deadline policy.
· There is no fee for copying or mailing. Both Guilds will mail these statements to the combined WGAW WGAE membership for free. The statements will also be posted on the Guilds’ websites. Statements submitted by fewer than 10 Current members in good standing will only be posted on the websites.
· Camera-ready statements may be any length on letter-sized pages (8½” x 11”).
· The names of 10 or more Current members in good standing endorsing each statement must appear directly on the statements submitted to the Guild. These names will appear on the statement mailed to the membership and will be posted on the web sites.
· Members’ signatures in legible form must be submitted to the WGAW or WGAE by the February 14, 2008 deadline, either on the statements themselves, or on separate papers, letters or correspondence.
· Camera-ready statements and supporting signatures submitted through WGAW should be delivered to WGAW, attention Jennifer Burt, 7000 W. Third St., LA, CA 90048. They may be delivered (1) in person; (2) by mail; (3) by email to jburt@wga.org; and by fax to (323) 782-4801. (Note that statements will not be re-typed at the Guild, and will be considered camera-ready as received.)
· Camera-ready statements and supporting signatures submitted through WGAE should be delivered to WGAE, attention Geoff Betts, 555 West 57th St., New York, NY 10019. They may be delivered (1) in person; (2) by mail; (3) by email to GBetts@wgaeast.org and by fax to (212) 582-1909. (Note that statements will not be re-typed at the Guild, and will be considered camera-ready as received.)
· For the Guilds’ mailing and website posting, the order of statements within each category, pro and con, will be determined by lot.
Please note: The Guilds do not check whether the writers whose signatures are submitted as endorsing a pro or con statement have actually consented to the use of their names in connection with that statement.
All member statements are the responsibility of the individuals making them, rather than the Guilds, and they do not necessarily reflect the views of the WGAW and WGAE, or their respective elected officials or staffs.
For a summary of the tentative agreement, please visit: http://www.wga.org/contract_07/wga_tent_summary.pdf
How to Vote by Proxy and What That Means
Voting on whether or not to lift the restraining order (legal jargon for calling off the strike) will take place in person at two meetings, one in NYC and one in LA.
If you cannot attend the meetings, you may vote by proxy. Today, there has been some confusion on what "voting by proxy" means. Faxing in a proxy vote form is NOT the same as voting. You are designating a fellow WGA member to vote on your behalf.
Obviously, you need to be sure you designate someone who will vote in accordance with your wishes.
Full info:
WGAw web page and WGAw proxy form
Designate your proxy and fax to (323) 421-9177.
WGAE web page and WGAE proxy form
Designate your proxy and fax to (212) 582-1909.
U.H. Editorializing: DON'T BLOW THIS OFF! The west board and east council decided to continue the strike for an extra 48 hours so your voice could be heard. Make the most of it and vote.
If you cannot attend the meetings, you may vote by proxy. Today, there has been some confusion on what "voting by proxy" means. Faxing in a proxy vote form is NOT the same as voting. You are designating a fellow WGA member to vote on your behalf.
Obviously, you need to be sure you designate someone who will vote in accordance with your wishes.
Full info:
WGAw web page and WGAw proxy form
Designate your proxy and fax to (323) 421-9177.
WGAE web page and WGAE proxy form
Designate your proxy and fax to (212) 582-1909.
U.H. Editorializing: DON'T BLOW THIS OFF! The west board and east council decided to continue the strike for an extra 48 hours so your voice could be heard. Make the most of it and vote.
2/10/2008
Members Email: Contract Update
This was just sent by WGA West President Patric Verrone to membership:
Dear Fellow Members,
I am are pleased to inform you that this morning the WGA Negotiating Committee unanimously and unconditionally recommended the terms of the proposed 2008 MBA to the WGAW Board and WGAE Council. The Board and Council then voted unanimously to recommend the contract, and to submit it to the joint membership of WGAW and WGAE for ratification. The ratification vote will take place over the next few weeks by mail ballot and at a special membership meeting. You will receive ballot materials and a notice of informational meetings during the next week.
There is, however, another issue to address: whether to lift the restraining order, and end the strike, during the ratification process. We are asking the members to decide this issue. A vote will take place on Tuesday, February 12, 2008.
A yes vote means you are voting to end the strike immediately; a no vote means you are voting to continue the strike during the ratification process.
Ballots can be cast at the Guild Theater from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm. If you aren’t able to cast a ballot in person, proxy ballots can be downloaded at http://www.wga.org/contract_07/proxy-2008.pdf and faxed. Proxy ballots and voting instructions are at wga.org. Until the votes are counted, we are still on strike. We will announce the vote count on Tuesday night.
There will be no picketing Monday or Tuesday: all pickets are suspended until the WGA membership votes to either end or continue the strike.
Thank you for your solidarity and support. We are all in this together.
Best,
Patric M. Verrone
President, WGAW
NOTE: WGAE voting takes place Tuesday from 4-7 PM at the Crowne Plaza on 49th and Broadway. Proxy ballots are on WGAE.org and must be returned to Guild East headquarters. Full info and proxy ballot are available on WGAEast.org.
Dear Fellow Members,
I am are pleased to inform you that this morning the WGA Negotiating Committee unanimously and unconditionally recommended the terms of the proposed 2008 MBA to the WGAW Board and WGAE Council. The Board and Council then voted unanimously to recommend the contract, and to submit it to the joint membership of WGAW and WGAE for ratification. The ratification vote will take place over the next few weeks by mail ballot and at a special membership meeting. You will receive ballot materials and a notice of informational meetings during the next week.
There is, however, another issue to address: whether to lift the restraining order, and end the strike, during the ratification process. We are asking the members to decide this issue. A vote will take place on Tuesday, February 12, 2008.
A yes vote means you are voting to end the strike immediately; a no vote means you are voting to continue the strike during the ratification process.
Ballots can be cast at the Guild Theater from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm. If you aren’t able to cast a ballot in person, proxy ballots can be downloaded at http://www.wga.org/contract_07/proxy-2008.pdf and faxed. Proxy ballots and voting instructions are at wga.org. Until the votes are counted, we are still on strike. We will announce the vote count on Tuesday night.
There will be no picketing Monday or Tuesday: all pickets are suspended until the WGA membership votes to either end or continue the strike.
Thank you for your solidarity and support. We are all in this together.
Best,
Patric M. Verrone
President, WGAW
NOTE: WGAE voting takes place Tuesday from 4-7 PM at the Crowne Plaza on 49th and Broadway. Proxy ballots are on WGAE.org and must be returned to Guild East headquarters. Full info and proxy ballot are available on WGAEast.org.
More Info on Voting
This email was just sent to strike captains. It contains info on the NegCom vote, the Board and Council votes, the pending vote to lift the strike, and the pending vote to ratify the contract.
DEAR STRIKE CAPTAINS,
This morning, the WGA Negotiating Committee unanimously and unconditionally recommended the terms of the proposed 2008 MBA to the WGAW Board and WGAE Council. The Board and Council then voted unanimously to recommend the contract, and to submit it to the joint membership of WGAW and WGAE for ratification. Ratification ballots will be mailed soon, and the ratification vote will be conducted over the next few weeks.More information about the ratification vote will be sent to you in a few days.
SPECIAL MEMBERSHIP VOTE:
An email will be sent out to the general membership later this afternoon announcing a special vote on Tuesday February 12. A yes vote means you are voting to end the strike immediately; a no vote means you are voting to continue the strike during the ratification process.
Ballots can be cast at the Writers Guild Theater in Los Angeles from 2 PM to 6 PM. For members that aren’t able to cast a ballot in person, proxy ballots can be downloaded at wga.org and faxed in. Proxy ballots and voting instructions will be posted at wga.org later today.
The strike remains in effect until the votes are counted. Results will be announced on Tuesday night.
Please encourage your team members to participate in this important decision and cast their ballots.
NO PICKETING MONDAY AND TUESDAY -- All pickets are suspended until the WGA membership votes to either end or continue the strike.
NOTE: WGAE voting takes place Tuesday from 4-7 PM at the Crowne Plaza on 49th and Broadway. Proxy ballots are on WGAE.org and must be returned to Guild East headquarters. Full info and proxy ballot are available on WGAEast.org.
DEAR STRIKE CAPTAINS,
This morning, the WGA Negotiating Committee unanimously and unconditionally recommended the terms of the proposed 2008 MBA to the WGAW Board and WGAE Council. The Board and Council then voted unanimously to recommend the contract, and to submit it to the joint membership of WGAW and WGAE for ratification. Ratification ballots will be mailed soon, and the ratification vote will be conducted over the next few weeks.More information about the ratification vote will be sent to you in a few days.
SPECIAL MEMBERSHIP VOTE:
An email will be sent out to the general membership later this afternoon announcing a special vote on Tuesday February 12. A yes vote means you are voting to end the strike immediately; a no vote means you are voting to continue the strike during the ratification process.
Ballots can be cast at the Writers Guild Theater in Los Angeles from 2 PM to 6 PM. For members that aren’t able to cast a ballot in person, proxy ballots can be downloaded at wga.org and faxed in. Proxy ballots and voting instructions will be posted at wga.org later today.
The strike remains in effect until the votes are counted. Results will be announced on Tuesday night.
Please encourage your team members to participate in this important decision and cast their ballots.
NO PICKETING MONDAY AND TUESDAY -- All pickets are suspended until the WGA membership votes to either end or continue the strike.
NOTE: WGAE voting takes place Tuesday from 4-7 PM at the Crowne Plaza on 49th and Broadway. Proxy ballots are on WGAE.org and must be returned to Guild East headquarters. Full info and proxy ballot are available on WGAEast.org.
Wait -- What Are We Voting For Again?
For clarity -- and because not everyone could get to one of the meetings last night in NY or LA -- here's a handy little FAQ for some of the questions we're hearing.
What's the 48 hour vote for again?
It's a vote on whether or not to lift the strike (which in the Constitution is called "the restraining order".) If the vote passes, writers can go back to work.
It's not a vote on the contract, that vote is completely separate, and will be a 10-days' notice vote.
When does the 48 hours start?
It should start today, when we get notified. The notification is the trigger of the 48 hours. The Guild staff are all working like crazy today to make that happen by early this afternoon.
How will we be notified of the 48 hour vote?
By email and robocall. Also, the vote will be publicized on the WGA website, and obviously we'll be talking about it here at UH as well.
When will the vote itself take place?
The goal is Tuesday afternoon/evening. A meeting will be called for sometime Tuesday (48 hours from the time of notification) and will probably be at the WGA Theater.
But it won't be an informational meeting; it's just a time window to come and vote, like a polling place.
Do I have to vote in person?
You can vote in person or by proxy. (Proxy voting is usually by fax.) Because of the time limitations, you won't be able to vote by mail ballot.
If the vote passes, when's the earliest we could be back at work?
Wednesday. And if it doesn't pass, we'll continue striking until the contract vote is done (10 days.)
And what about the contract vote?
It's a separate vote. Voting on the contract will be 10 days' notice.
There will be pro and con statements on the proposed contract, mail-in ballots, and then a meeting for casting ballots in person or by proxy.
What if we vote the contract down?
It goes back to negotiation. As a practical matter, it's a gamble.
It could mean that we get movement on the streaming window (the area of most concern to most people.) It could also mean that the CEO's sweep everything off the table and demand to start over.
But these are considerations for the 10 day period, when we debate and discuss the deal and whether we want to ratify it.
So the most important thing: VOTE.
What's the 48 hour vote for again?
It's a vote on whether or not to lift the strike (which in the Constitution is called "the restraining order".) If the vote passes, writers can go back to work.
It's not a vote on the contract, that vote is completely separate, and will be a 10-days' notice vote.
When does the 48 hours start?
It should start today, when we get notified. The notification is the trigger of the 48 hours. The Guild staff are all working like crazy today to make that happen by early this afternoon.
How will we be notified of the 48 hour vote?
By email and robocall. Also, the vote will be publicized on the WGA website, and obviously we'll be talking about it here at UH as well.
When will the vote itself take place?
The goal is Tuesday afternoon/evening. A meeting will be called for sometime Tuesday (48 hours from the time of notification) and will probably be at the WGA Theater.
But it won't be an informational meeting; it's just a time window to come and vote, like a polling place.
Do I have to vote in person?
You can vote in person or by proxy. (Proxy voting is usually by fax.) Because of the time limitations, you won't be able to vote by mail ballot.
If the vote passes, when's the earliest we could be back at work?
Wednesday. And if it doesn't pass, we'll continue striking until the contract vote is done (10 days.)
And what about the contract vote?
It's a separate vote. Voting on the contract will be 10 days' notice.
There will be pro and con statements on the proposed contract, mail-in ballots, and then a meeting for casting ballots in person or by proxy.
What if we vote the contract down?
It goes back to negotiation. As a practical matter, it's a gamble.
It could mean that we get movement on the streaming window (the area of most concern to most people.) It could also mean that the CEO's sweep everything off the table and demand to start over.
But these are considerations for the 10 day period, when we debate and discuss the deal and whether we want to ratify it.
So the most important thing: VOTE.
2/09/2008
Ad-Supported Streaming: Point/Counterpoint
From the emails we are receiving, there is no point in the proposed contract more controversial than the provision on ad-supported streaming. The two emails below were originally submitted to us unsolicited, but we have posted them together because they form such a useful point/counterpoint argument on this issue. See you in the comments! -JA
ONLINE STREAMING TERMS: PRO
Statement by Christopher Kubasik
Don't Be Down on the Deal Because of the Window for Ad-Supported Streaming
Some people see the streaming as “just like DVDs” and so payment should begin right away. And others see the streaming as just a new delivery of system of real time content (like TV). My guess is that this difference in perspective is really where the dispute lies. We’re arguing over which metaphor/model to use for streaming.
I side with those who see streaming as a whole new delivery system, and, as a result, I think having a window in which no residuals are paid is fair and reasonable. Here's why.
While the big bucks (and the obsession) is often about the money that a movie makes the first week or two (or a TV show makes on its first run), the real money -- and I mean, the real, real money -- is in libraries.
The music industry didn't fall apart because of MP3 players. It fell apart because the music industry was producing albums that had 2 good songs and and 12 lame ones -- and the consumers said, "Okay... well, I don't want the 12 lame ones, just the two good ones." The music industry didn't catch on, Steve Jobs did, and there we go. Because it wasn't about illegal downloads. It was about people getting the music they wanted. Once it was more convenient to just pay .99 cents a pop instead of pirating, people started paying.
As for film and TV content, yes, opening box office is great, and so are great ratings. But the truth is that this idea that studios and networks control WHEN we watch something is over. Just over. People want to watch when and where it is convenient for them to watch. And today's technology allows them to do exactly that. Now, the media company's are either going to meet that need, or piracy will continue to grow.
Digital media will offer what I call "perpetual syndication" -- all of MGM and NBC and who-all-else's libraries will be there all the time. It's no longer a matter of filling air time (which is only a limited number of slots) but of an infinite number of shows being available all the time.
I just watched Season One of "The Wire" this past week. (Which was fucking awesome.) I put off watching it, even though I'd seen a few episodes and had been wholly impressed, because I wanted to have the whole thing ready to go for my pleasure.
I mentioned this to a friend of mine last night, asking if he owned Season Two on DVD. He said no, but added the moment I got it to tell him so we could watch it together. So, YEARS after this thing aired, we're going to be watching hours and hours of TV.
And that's the way it's going to go.
There's going to be money coming in for years and years and years off of content. (My own view is that the compelling and niche stuff has the best chance in this model, where as the vanilla fluff of network -- um, won't... but that's another discussion.)
So the issue is how long is the initial window. (You'll note I'm not calling it a Promotional Window -- which is grotesque in its imprecision and assumes that the Internet is some fair-haired stepchild of TV and not simply another means of distribution -- which it is.)
So, that's the issue. Not whether there SHOULD be a window, but how long. We don't get paid for the first airing of TV. We don't get paid when movies play at a theater. Why? The companies own the content. They funded the show. Staffed it. Handled business matters, took the financial risk. Our residuals are based on CONTINUED interest in a piece of content. And that is when we start getting paid for reuse -- after the negotiated length of the window ends.
Since we're going to be building off of previous models (because that's how things work) the truth is there's going to be a window where the people who own the content get to do what they want with it. Should it be one week? Two weeks? Three?
That's simply a fight -- that's a negotiation. We do the best we can to make it short. The media companies do they best we can to make it long. A month would clearly be too long. Should it be one week? Two? That has to be decided at the table. But at some point there's going to be a window. Just like there's currently a window for TV and film distribution.
Christopher Kubasik was the Head Writer for "Stranger Adventures" which received three Emmy nominations for Broadband content. He is currently writing an online anthology series for Stage 9.
-----
ONLINE STREAMING TERMS: CON
Statement by Kristen Stavola
Two Percent of Nothing is Nothing
Before we head into these Saturday meetings, there are some concepts and viewing trends that we should all be familiar with where streaming media is concerned. We’ve given up the present for the future in these negotiations, so we owe it to ourselves and future content creators to get this right, even if only a little bit right.
The Initial Streaming window is a terribly dangerous precedent to set.
Here’s why. Think about the things that really matter in this industry:
*OPENING NIGHT BOX OFFICE
*PRIME TIME FIRST RUN RATINGS
*FIRST WEEKS’ RECORD SALES (and downloads)
Before long we will add the first week of online streaming to that list. I’ll try to make this as simple as possible.
WHO DOESN’T LOVE TiVo?
If you own a DVR/TiVo — how long do you wait to watch an episode of something you recorded? Same day? 3-5 days? 7 days at most? Well, that means you’re viewing habits are consistent with the rest of the DVR viewing public. You want to see your recorded episode before the next one airs. Research backs this up. Get in touch with the folks at Neilsen. ComScore. HitWise. Gartner. Harris Interactive. Forrester. You will be hard pressed to even find much research on viewing patterns beyond the 7 day window, I know I was. [Dig through the links of information I’ve attached below.]
ONLINE COPY CATS
Online viewers are comprised mostly of the lost broadcast audience. No one is even disputing this. At least no one I’m talking to or reading. Nevertheless, Internet streaming IS REUSE; this has already been established. The primary market for material created for Broadcast use is via broadcast/cable. So, we apply the DVR viewing trend to online viewing. If you are going to watch an episode, it’s typically something you missed and you want to catch it within the first week it’s broadcast, right? (esp. "appointment programming" like LOST!)
You try to catch it from work. Or you try to fit it in on the weekend. But you definitely want to fit it in while it’s still topical, before the next episode, etc. And, once again, you are consistent with the rest of the viewing public. And the numbers for online viewing of TV and feature films are expected to soar in the next several years. Again, something that no one is disputing. Check here to see traffic trends for the season premiere of LOST. Note the spikes and valleys.
AVAILABLE ON DVD NEXT TUESDAY
Have you noticed that the only show that seems to have an archive available of more than one season is LOST? That’s because the streaming episodes are pulled so that some value is retained when they are packaged as DVD box sets you are obligated to buy.
WE GAVE UP DVDS TO AVOID A STRIKE AND TO POSITION OURSEVES FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE IN NEW MEDIA, GUYS!
That future ain’t lookin’ too bright right now. Adams Research wrote: “... DVD renting and purchasing are such ingrained habits... that we expect downloads will not have a major negative impact in the near term."
I’ve spoken exhaustively this week to data analysts, ad execs and most importantly web producers presently working with studios/networks. These viewing patterns were right on the money. I was assured that by the time your streaming media has been available online for a matter of DAYS, it is no longer receiving the promotion it received upon launch. It is that promotion which results in views.
This email was originally written before my knowledge of the 13-26 WEEK “first use” window for original online content. There isn’t much time to speak to this in detail. I ran this window by a web entrepreneur with 3 name brand technology/internet start ups on his resume. “You will lose nearly 90% of the property's value in that window. Just look at LAZY SUNDAY — a piece of entertainment content that created a 1.3 billion dollar company(YouTube). I’m not saying people made money. It’s an example of the kind of traffic a good piece of entertainment content can generate in a 30 DAY window. No one cares about it now, but in its first 10 days, seven million people checked it out. Why would you guys give up that much real estate so easily and quickly?”
Think about it. Why are we?
DISTRIBUTORS’ GROSS
Two percent distributor’s gross in the third year of the new contract? Initial streaming window? I hope by now you’ve realized that the 2% (the AMPTP has forced upon us) is meaningless. The big traffic numbers have already come inside of the promotional, Residual free zone -- and we’re left with 2% of the stragglers.
Don’t be fooled because my LAZY SUNDAY example above was a 3 min clip and not an entire episode of a broadcast series. Your episode will only get promoted from prime real estate like a network homepage for 1-5 days— TOPS!
Traffic is about promotion and virality. You need to hit that first 100k- 200k viewers in the first 1-3 days if something is to catch on virally with regards to original content. Think of that Sarah Silverman/Matt Damon video just last week! Its audience was on the decline within 3 days. However, its viewers online eclipsed Kimmel’s nightly ratings in 2-3 DAYS! Again, these are examples of how traffic views content. Something was promoting this content -- probably an email from your Striking writer pals. If there is no promotion -- viewers have to dig for your content -- and those numbers are not very sexy!
I’m pretty darn confident that the WGA’s research confirms all of the above. I’m fairly certain we will be told that Internet streaming and DVR viewing still only add up to the same size audience that traditionally watch the broadcasts.
That no one expects erosion of network reruns any time soon. . .
We may even be told that because of the erosion of traditional broadcast viewing audience there is no ad-based money being made by the media congloms on streaming media — that they’re giving away streaming media to advertisers to make up the difference! C'mon! I just spoke to three web producers who are making more money PROMOTING our content in the first 3 days then we'll see in the first three YEARS of this contract. I’ve listed many links to research at the bottom of this email, use them. By 2011, in-stream advertising revenue is expected to reach $3.89 billion dollars and revenue for downloads will contribute $850 million according to the Yankee Group.
We all know Neilsen ratings are less and less accurate. But that doesn’t mean the Companies aren’t aware of online traffic to sites, when it happens and for how long a viewer is engaged. What ads they sit through, when they tune out etc. Not to mention this is all quickly moving in the direction of sponsorship-driven co-branding.
And you better hold your hats because the number of sites that offer revenue sharing models (YouTube, Break, MetaCafe,Vio, Revver) will be on the rise this year and those deals are going to be about placement on their homepages in the first 1-7 days. If you think the episode of SAMANTHA WHO that debuted online 24 days ago is going to be getting any promotion from ABC/DISNEY...
Ask yourselves the following when you are presented with explanations for why you are giving up the most important piece of our online future...
WHAT DOES ANY OF IT HAVE TO DO WITH AN INITIAL RESIDUALS-FREE STREAMING WINDOW?! HAVEN’T WE ALREADY ESTABLISHED THAT STREAMING ON THE INTERNET IS REUSE?
Because once we give them this promotional window... There ain’t no getting it back! We’re setting precedent on Internet jurisdiction. VHS/DVDs anyone? Not only has the 4 cents never been revisited, it wasn’t even on the table for discussion! Why should anyone believe the promotional window goes away in 2010 just because Nick Counter goes away?!
A question was posed to me in email the other day by a Neg Com member: “What do you think the dollar value is between a 7-day window and a 14-day window? And how much extra time on strike do you think that's worth for this membership?”
I’m still not sure about the answers to those questions. It’s not easy. Never said it was. Yet, fighting for digital rights in the future while saddled with these windows that are based on an eroding business model is going to be even more impossible in the future. Just ask your favorite musician! I feel for our leadership, truly. I’m not a hardliner. I was prepared to take a sucky deal because I want this strike over as much as the next person. I need to get back to work...
But TWO PERCENT OF NOTHING IS NOTHING!
Think about it. Then show up tonight.
----
"Bewkes also signaled he will stress pushing Time Warner's entertainment content onto digital properties. Bewkes said Time Warner -- and most in the industry overall -- need to be "a bit more revolutionary than evolutionary" in digital initiatives, that all linear TV networks should be available on demand via broadband and TV sets, and that TW will make its own networks available on-demand "aggressively" to "show the industry the benefits." -- Nikki Finke, DeadlineHollywoodDaily.com
"Video has hit a tipping point, much the way audio did a few years ago," said Michael Gartenberg, research director at the New York-based firm Jupiter Research. "Now we have access to good, meaningful content that's viable, as opposed to stuff as proof of concept."
----
http://www.marketingcharts.com/television/2-trillion-in-global-entertainment-media-spending-by-2011-763/
http://www.webtvwire.com/video-advertising-opportunities-being-expanded-by-use-of-transcoding-technologies/
http://www.tns-mi.com/news/01072008.htm
http://www.emarketer.com/SiteSearch.aspx?arg=DVR+viewing&src=search_go_welcome
http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?id=1005914&src=article_head_sitesearch
http://www.juiceanalytics.com/writing/2007/07/tv-ratings-and-online-audiences/
http://www.keynote.com/benchmark/issues/2007winterspring/article_streaming_1.html
http://www.jupiterresearch.com/bin/item.pl/research:concept/1211/id=100045
http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=847
http://web-advertising.suite101.com/article.cfm/online_advertising_trends
http://www.choicestream.com/videosurveyresults/ChoiceStream_Survey-ViewerTrends-TV_OnlineVideo2007.pdf
http://weblogs.hitwise.com/
Kristen Stavola is a WGA member with a background in New media,
as well as film development and production. She very much wants to
get back to work!
ONLINE STREAMING TERMS: PRO
Statement by Christopher Kubasik
Don't Be Down on the Deal Because of the Window for Ad-Supported Streaming
Some people see the streaming as “just like DVDs” and so payment should begin right away. And others see the streaming as just a new delivery of system of real time content (like TV). My guess is that this difference in perspective is really where the dispute lies. We’re arguing over which metaphor/model to use for streaming.
I side with those who see streaming as a whole new delivery system, and, as a result, I think having a window in which no residuals are paid is fair and reasonable. Here's why.
While the big bucks (and the obsession) is often about the money that a movie makes the first week or two (or a TV show makes on its first run), the real money -- and I mean, the real, real money -- is in libraries.
The music industry didn't fall apart because of MP3 players. It fell apart because the music industry was producing albums that had 2 good songs and and 12 lame ones -- and the consumers said, "Okay... well, I don't want the 12 lame ones, just the two good ones." The music industry didn't catch on, Steve Jobs did, and there we go. Because it wasn't about illegal downloads. It was about people getting the music they wanted. Once it was more convenient to just pay .99 cents a pop instead of pirating, people started paying.
As for film and TV content, yes, opening box office is great, and so are great ratings. But the truth is that this idea that studios and networks control WHEN we watch something is over. Just over. People want to watch when and where it is convenient for them to watch. And today's technology allows them to do exactly that. Now, the media company's are either going to meet that need, or piracy will continue to grow.
Digital media will offer what I call "perpetual syndication" -- all of MGM and NBC and who-all-else's libraries will be there all the time. It's no longer a matter of filling air time (which is only a limited number of slots) but of an infinite number of shows being available all the time.
I just watched Season One of "The Wire" this past week. (Which was fucking awesome.) I put off watching it, even though I'd seen a few episodes and had been wholly impressed, because I wanted to have the whole thing ready to go for my pleasure.
I mentioned this to a friend of mine last night, asking if he owned Season Two on DVD. He said no, but added the moment I got it to tell him so we could watch it together. So, YEARS after this thing aired, we're going to be watching hours and hours of TV.
And that's the way it's going to go.
There's going to be money coming in for years and years and years off of content. (My own view is that the compelling and niche stuff has the best chance in this model, where as the vanilla fluff of network -- um, won't... but that's another discussion.)
So the issue is how long is the initial window. (You'll note I'm not calling it a Promotional Window -- which is grotesque in its imprecision and assumes that the Internet is some fair-haired stepchild of TV and not simply another means of distribution -- which it is.)
So, that's the issue. Not whether there SHOULD be a window, but how long. We don't get paid for the first airing of TV. We don't get paid when movies play at a theater. Why? The companies own the content. They funded the show. Staffed it. Handled business matters, took the financial risk. Our residuals are based on CONTINUED interest in a piece of content. And that is when we start getting paid for reuse -- after the negotiated length of the window ends.
Since we're going to be building off of previous models (because that's how things work) the truth is there's going to be a window where the people who own the content get to do what they want with it. Should it be one week? Two weeks? Three?
That's simply a fight -- that's a negotiation. We do the best we can to make it short. The media companies do they best we can to make it long. A month would clearly be too long. Should it be one week? Two? That has to be decided at the table. But at some point there's going to be a window. Just like there's currently a window for TV and film distribution.
Christopher Kubasik was the Head Writer for "Stranger Adventures" which received three Emmy nominations for Broadband content. He is currently writing an online anthology series for Stage 9.
-----
ONLINE STREAMING TERMS: CON
Statement by Kristen Stavola
Two Percent of Nothing is Nothing
Before we head into these Saturday meetings, there are some concepts and viewing trends that we should all be familiar with where streaming media is concerned. We’ve given up the present for the future in these negotiations, so we owe it to ourselves and future content creators to get this right, even if only a little bit right.
The Initial Streaming window is a terribly dangerous precedent to set.
Here’s why. Think about the things that really matter in this industry:
*OPENING NIGHT BOX OFFICE
*PRIME TIME FIRST RUN RATINGS
*FIRST WEEKS’ RECORD SALES (and downloads)
Before long we will add the first week of online streaming to that list. I’ll try to make this as simple as possible.
WHO DOESN’T LOVE TiVo?
If you own a DVR/TiVo — how long do you wait to watch an episode of something you recorded? Same day? 3-5 days? 7 days at most? Well, that means you’re viewing habits are consistent with the rest of the DVR viewing public. You want to see your recorded episode before the next one airs. Research backs this up. Get in touch with the folks at Neilsen. ComScore. HitWise. Gartner. Harris Interactive. Forrester. You will be hard pressed to even find much research on viewing patterns beyond the 7 day window, I know I was. [Dig through the links of information I’ve attached below.]
ONLINE COPY CATS
Online viewers are comprised mostly of the lost broadcast audience. No one is even disputing this. At least no one I’m talking to or reading. Nevertheless, Internet streaming IS REUSE; this has already been established. The primary market for material created for Broadcast use is via broadcast/cable. So, we apply the DVR viewing trend to online viewing. If you are going to watch an episode, it’s typically something you missed and you want to catch it within the first week it’s broadcast, right? (esp. "appointment programming" like LOST!)
You try to catch it from work. Or you try to fit it in on the weekend. But you definitely want to fit it in while it’s still topical, before the next episode, etc. And, once again, you are consistent with the rest of the viewing public. And the numbers for online viewing of TV and feature films are expected to soar in the next several years. Again, something that no one is disputing. Check here to see traffic trends for the season premiere of LOST. Note the spikes and valleys.
AVAILABLE ON DVD NEXT TUESDAY
Have you noticed that the only show that seems to have an archive available of more than one season is LOST? That’s because the streaming episodes are pulled so that some value is retained when they are packaged as DVD box sets you are obligated to buy.
WE GAVE UP DVDS TO AVOID A STRIKE AND TO POSITION OURSEVES FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE IN NEW MEDIA, GUYS!
That future ain’t lookin’ too bright right now. Adams Research wrote: “... DVD renting and purchasing are such ingrained habits... that we expect downloads will not have a major negative impact in the near term."
I’ve spoken exhaustively this week to data analysts, ad execs and most importantly web producers presently working with studios/networks. These viewing patterns were right on the money. I was assured that by the time your streaming media has been available online for a matter of DAYS, it is no longer receiving the promotion it received upon launch. It is that promotion which results in views.
This email was originally written before my knowledge of the 13-26 WEEK “first use” window for original online content. There isn’t much time to speak to this in detail. I ran this window by a web entrepreneur with 3 name brand technology/internet start ups on his resume. “You will lose nearly 90% of the property's value in that window. Just look at LAZY SUNDAY — a piece of entertainment content that created a 1.3 billion dollar company(YouTube). I’m not saying people made money. It’s an example of the kind of traffic a good piece of entertainment content can generate in a 30 DAY window. No one cares about it now, but in its first 10 days, seven million people checked it out. Why would you guys give up that much real estate so easily and quickly?”
Think about it. Why are we?
DISTRIBUTORS’ GROSS
Two percent distributor’s gross in the third year of the new contract? Initial streaming window? I hope by now you’ve realized that the 2% (the AMPTP has forced upon us) is meaningless. The big traffic numbers have already come inside of the promotional, Residual free zone -- and we’re left with 2% of the stragglers.
Don’t be fooled because my LAZY SUNDAY example above was a 3 min clip and not an entire episode of a broadcast series. Your episode will only get promoted from prime real estate like a network homepage for 1-5 days— TOPS!
Traffic is about promotion and virality. You need to hit that first 100k- 200k viewers in the first 1-3 days if something is to catch on virally with regards to original content. Think of that Sarah Silverman/Matt Damon video just last week! Its audience was on the decline within 3 days. However, its viewers online eclipsed Kimmel’s nightly ratings in 2-3 DAYS! Again, these are examples of how traffic views content. Something was promoting this content -- probably an email from your Striking writer pals. If there is no promotion -- viewers have to dig for your content -- and those numbers are not very sexy!
I’m pretty darn confident that the WGA’s research confirms all of the above. I’m fairly certain we will be told that Internet streaming and DVR viewing still only add up to the same size audience that traditionally watch the broadcasts.
That no one expects erosion of network reruns any time soon. . .
We may even be told that because of the erosion of traditional broadcast viewing audience there is no ad-based money being made by the media congloms on streaming media — that they’re giving away streaming media to advertisers to make up the difference! C'mon! I just spoke to three web producers who are making more money PROMOTING our content in the first 3 days then we'll see in the first three YEARS of this contract. I’ve listed many links to research at the bottom of this email, use them. By 2011, in-stream advertising revenue is expected to reach $3.89 billion dollars and revenue for downloads will contribute $850 million according to the Yankee Group.
We all know Neilsen ratings are less and less accurate. But that doesn’t mean the Companies aren’t aware of online traffic to sites, when it happens and for how long a viewer is engaged. What ads they sit through, when they tune out etc. Not to mention this is all quickly moving in the direction of sponsorship-driven co-branding.
And you better hold your hats because the number of sites that offer revenue sharing models (YouTube, Break, MetaCafe,Vio, Revver) will be on the rise this year and those deals are going to be about placement on their homepages in the first 1-7 days. If you think the episode of SAMANTHA WHO that debuted online 24 days ago is going to be getting any promotion from ABC/DISNEY...
Ask yourselves the following when you are presented with explanations for why you are giving up the most important piece of our online future...
WHAT DOES ANY OF IT HAVE TO DO WITH AN INITIAL RESIDUALS-FREE STREAMING WINDOW?! HAVEN’T WE ALREADY ESTABLISHED THAT STREAMING ON THE INTERNET IS REUSE?
Because once we give them this promotional window... There ain’t no getting it back! We’re setting precedent on Internet jurisdiction. VHS/DVDs anyone? Not only has the 4 cents never been revisited, it wasn’t even on the table for discussion! Why should anyone believe the promotional window goes away in 2010 just because Nick Counter goes away?!
A question was posed to me in email the other day by a Neg Com member: “What do you think the dollar value is between a 7-day window and a 14-day window? And how much extra time on strike do you think that's worth for this membership?”
I’m still not sure about the answers to those questions. It’s not easy. Never said it was. Yet, fighting for digital rights in the future while saddled with these windows that are based on an eroding business model is going to be even more impossible in the future. Just ask your favorite musician! I feel for our leadership, truly. I’m not a hardliner. I was prepared to take a sucky deal because I want this strike over as much as the next person. I need to get back to work...
But TWO PERCENT OF NOTHING IS NOTHING!
Think about it. Then show up tonight.
----
"Bewkes also signaled he will stress pushing Time Warner's entertainment content onto digital properties. Bewkes said Time Warner -- and most in the industry overall -- need to be "a bit more revolutionary than evolutionary" in digital initiatives, that all linear TV networks should be available on demand via broadband and TV sets, and that TW will make its own networks available on-demand "aggressively" to "show the industry the benefits." -- Nikki Finke, DeadlineHollywoodDaily.com
"Video has hit a tipping point, much the way audio did a few years ago," said Michael Gartenberg, research director at the New York-based firm Jupiter Research. "Now we have access to good, meaningful content that's viable, as opposed to stuff as proof of concept."
----
http://www.marketingcharts.com/television/2-trillion-in-global-entertainment-media-spending-by-2011-763/
http://www.webtvwire.com/video-advertising-opportunities-being-expanded-by-use-of-transcoding-technologies/
http://www.tns-mi.com/news/01072008.htm
http://www.emarketer.com/SiteSearch.aspx?arg=DVR+viewing&src=search_go_welcome
http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?id=1005914&src=article_head_sitesearch
http://www.juiceanalytics.com/writing/2007/07/tv-ratings-and-online-audiences/
http://www.keynote.com/benchmark/issues/2007winterspring/article_streaming_1.html
http://www.jupiterresearch.com/bin/item.pl/research:concept/1211/id=100045
http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=847
http://web-advertising.suite101.com/article.cfm/online_advertising_trends
http://www.choicestream.com/videosurveyresults/ChoiceStream_Survey-ViewerTrends-TV_OnlineVideo2007.pdf
http://weblogs.hitwise.com/
Kristen Stavola is a WGA member with a background in New media,
as well as film development and production. She very much wants to
get back to work!
Letter From The Presidents With Deal Summary
This was sent early this morning to membership. The delay in publishing the deal points, we've learned, was because the companies dragged their feet enshrining some of the final details in an attempt to renege on some of what they had promised. The last-minute fight to keep that from happening took until late last night.
To Our Fellow Members,
We have a tentative deal.
It is an agreement that protects a future in which the Internet becomes the primary means of both content creation and delivery. It creates formulas for revenue-based residuals in new media, provides access to deals and financial data to help us evaluate and enforce those formulas, and establishes the principle that, "When they get paid, we get paid."
Specific terms of the agreement are described in the summary at the following link - http://www.wga.org/contract_07/wga_tent_summary.pdf - and will be further discussed at our Saturday membership meetings on both coasts. At those meetings we will also discuss how we will proceed regarding ratification of this agreement and lifting the restraining order that ends the strike. Details of the Los Angeles meeting can be found at http://www.wga.org/subpage_member.aspx?id=2763.
Less than six months ago, the AMPTP wanted to enact profit-based residuals, defer all Internet compensation in favor of a study, forever eliminate "distributor's gross" valuations, and enforce 39 pages of rollbacks to compensation, pension and health benefits, reacquisition, and separated rights. Today, thanks to three months of physical resolve, determination, and perseverance, we have a contract that includes WGA jurisdiction and separated rights in new media, residuals for Internet reuse, enforcement and auditing tools, expansion of fair market value and distributor's gross language, improvements to other traditional elements of the MBA, and no rollbacks.
Over these three difficult months, we shut down production of nearly all scripted content in TV and film and had a serious impact on the business of our employers in ways they did not expect and were hard pressed to deflect. Nevertheless, an ongoing struggle against seven, multinational media conglomerates, no matter how successful, is exhausting, taking an enormous personal toll on our members and countless others. As such, we believe that continuing to strike now will not bring sufficient gains to outweigh the potential risks and that the time has come to accept this contract and settle the strike.
Much has been achieved, and while this agreement is neither perfect nor perhaps all that we deserve for the countless hours of hard work and sacrifice, our strike has been a success. We activated, engaged, and involved the membership of our Guilds with a solidarity that has never before occurred. We developed a captains system and a communications structure that used the Internet to build bonds within our membership and beyond. We earned the backing of other unions and their members worldwide, the respect of elected leaders and politicians throughout the nation, and the overwhelming support of fans and the general public. Our thanks to all of them, and to the staffs at both Guilds who have worked so long and patiently to help us all.
There is much yet to be done and we intend to use all the techniques and relationships we've developed in this strike to make it happen. We must support our brothers and sisters in SAG who, as their contract expires in less than five months, will be facing many of the same challenges we have just endured. We must further pursue new relationships we have established in Washington and in state and local governments so that we can maintain leverage against the consolidated multinational conglomerates with whom we bargain. We must be vigilant in monitoring the deals that are made in new media so that in the years ahead we can enforce and expand our contract. We must fight to get decent working conditions and benefits for writers of reality TV, animation, and any other genre in which writers do not have a WGA contract.
Most important, however, is to continue to use the new collective power we have generated for our collective benefit. More than ever, now and beyond, we are all in this together.
Best,
Patric M. Verrone
President, WGAW
Michael Winship
President, WGAE
2/08/2008
What Happened at the Strike Captain’s Meeting Today?
The Strike Captains met at the WGA Theater today and we were allowed to look at the NOT FINISHED Terms Of Agreement. The reason that the Guild has not published them to everyone in the membership is because they ARE NOT FINISHED. In fact, still today the negotiating team has to fight the AMPTP lawyers on drafting legal language that the lawyers keep backsliding on – which sounds like, “Nope, my boss never agreed to that.” Then our leadership shows them their notes from the meeting. They say, “Well, here are our notes,” which contradict – so the leadership has to call up Chernin and Iger – who then have to call their lawyers and tell them to back-off. Then, the music stops and they scramble for chairs.
If the AMPTP lawyers don’t hammer out the legal language tonight in a fair way that was agreed upon by all parties, and get it signed by their CEO bosses by midnight tonight (the agreed upon deadline) then it only hurts the AMPTP and the entire town, because there is no way the leadership will show it to us until it’s finalized. They know too well how slippery these folks are – once you tell your membership this is what it will be – well then the lawyers have no incentive to improve on the legal language.
So, that is why you haven’t seen the terms and deal points yet. However, as soon as the ink is dry – they will be emailed to you both in summary and in longform immediately by your guild (East and West). Hopefully, that will be tonight, or early tomorrow morning. This way they can be studied and discussed before the general assemblies (East and West) tomorrow.
Generally, how is the deal?
Patric Verrone, Michael Winship, David Young, and John Bowman are all recommending the deal. They think it’s a good one – not perfect – but a good solid deal that we would never have gotten if we hadn’t have gone out on strike. They believe we got every last penny on the table. Like in any negotiation, neither side is 100% satisfied. But, on our side there are good gains, and notable gains in the area of New Media.
Okay, so what's going to happen at the Saturday meeting?
Well, if the document is signed and delivered – as it should be – the Negotiating Team will go over the document point by point. They will then outline what the steps moving forward might be:
1. If a majority of the assembly seems happy with the Terms of Agreement, and will likely ratify it – the greater board will take this into consideration when they meet on Sunday. Then, on Sunday they will vote on whether or not to lift the strike, and send everyone back to work on Monday. They will only vote to lift it if they feel that the majority of membership likes the deal and will ratify it. If that's the case – we go back to work on Monday. Meanwhile the traditional 10 day ratification process takes place: everyone receives ballots, sends in their vote, their vote is counted...
2. If at the assembly the feedback from the membership is that they are not happy with the deal and will likely not ratify it, then the board takes that into consideration when they vote on Sunday. If they vote not to lift the strike, we then stay out 10 more days as we ratify the vote. Keep in mind staying out 10 more days would hurt the rest of TV season, the Oscars, next year's pilot season, and the 2009 feature slate. This not only hurts the companies, it also hurts us, and the whole town.
3. If the board does not lift the strike, and we vote the deal down after the 10 day ratification process. Then, the Negotiating Team goes back to the drawing table, and begins negotiating again. This time around though, we’re likely to be out until SAG negotiates in June. An old timer mentioned that that’s the course the membership took in ’88, and they were out for 3 more months and got no notable gains. Our leverage right now is the rest of TV season, the Oscars, pilot season, and the 2009 feature slate - once we pass the point of no return on those we've lost leverage for a good while.
4. The 48 hour ratification process. If on Sunday the board votes not to lift the strike, then they could enact this process. However, this means robocalling, emailing, phoning, and getting in instant contact with every member to let them know that there will be a vote in the next 48 hours. This is called the notification period – not impossible… but not the best option because many numbers and email addresses for members are outdated – and the guild would want an accurate vote of all membership – not just the ones who update their contact information. The 10 day period gives more time for mailed ballots to find their owners. However, if the board decides to go with the 48 hour ratification process, and the majority of membership vote to ratify the terms, then we would likely be back at work on Wednesday.
I hope I’ve answered more questions than I’ve raised. I would suggest coming to the meeting tomorrow with an open mind. I would also highly suggest coming to the meeting tomorrow. It will not only ensure that you have all the information, and that your voice will be heard when the board measures their decision on Sunday, it will also ensure that the board gets a representative idea of where we stand as a membership.
When and where is the meeting again?
Saturday February 9
New York: 2pm. Broadway Ballroom of the Crowne Plaza Hotel Times Square, 1606 Broadway (Broadway and 49th Street)
Los Angeles: 7pm. Shrine Auditorium, 649 W Jefferson Blvd 90007.
Current active members only. Picture ID will be required for entry. Parking at the Shrine will be provided.
Hope to see you all there.
If the AMPTP lawyers don’t hammer out the legal language tonight in a fair way that was agreed upon by all parties, and get it signed by their CEO bosses by midnight tonight (the agreed upon deadline) then it only hurts the AMPTP and the entire town, because there is no way the leadership will show it to us until it’s finalized. They know too well how slippery these folks are – once you tell your membership this is what it will be – well then the lawyers have no incentive to improve on the legal language.
So, that is why you haven’t seen the terms and deal points yet. However, as soon as the ink is dry – they will be emailed to you both in summary and in longform immediately by your guild (East and West). Hopefully, that will be tonight, or early tomorrow morning. This way they can be studied and discussed before the general assemblies (East and West) tomorrow.
Generally, how is the deal?
Patric Verrone, Michael Winship, David Young, and John Bowman are all recommending the deal. They think it’s a good one – not perfect – but a good solid deal that we would never have gotten if we hadn’t have gone out on strike. They believe we got every last penny on the table. Like in any negotiation, neither side is 100% satisfied. But, on our side there are good gains, and notable gains in the area of New Media.
Okay, so what's going to happen at the Saturday meeting?
Well, if the document is signed and delivered – as it should be – the Negotiating Team will go over the document point by point. They will then outline what the steps moving forward might be:
1. If a majority of the assembly seems happy with the Terms of Agreement, and will likely ratify it – the greater board will take this into consideration when they meet on Sunday. Then, on Sunday they will vote on whether or not to lift the strike, and send everyone back to work on Monday. They will only vote to lift it if they feel that the majority of membership likes the deal and will ratify it. If that's the case – we go back to work on Monday. Meanwhile the traditional 10 day ratification process takes place: everyone receives ballots, sends in their vote, their vote is counted...
2. If at the assembly the feedback from the membership is that they are not happy with the deal and will likely not ratify it, then the board takes that into consideration when they vote on Sunday. If they vote not to lift the strike, we then stay out 10 more days as we ratify the vote. Keep in mind staying out 10 more days would hurt the rest of TV season, the Oscars, next year's pilot season, and the 2009 feature slate. This not only hurts the companies, it also hurts us, and the whole town.
3. If the board does not lift the strike, and we vote the deal down after the 10 day ratification process. Then, the Negotiating Team goes back to the drawing table, and begins negotiating again. This time around though, we’re likely to be out until SAG negotiates in June. An old timer mentioned that that’s the course the membership took in ’88, and they were out for 3 more months and got no notable gains. Our leverage right now is the rest of TV season, the Oscars, pilot season, and the 2009 feature slate - once we pass the point of no return on those we've lost leverage for a good while.
4. The 48 hour ratification process. If on Sunday the board votes not to lift the strike, then they could enact this process. However, this means robocalling, emailing, phoning, and getting in instant contact with every member to let them know that there will be a vote in the next 48 hours. This is called the notification period – not impossible… but not the best option because many numbers and email addresses for members are outdated – and the guild would want an accurate vote of all membership – not just the ones who update their contact information. The 10 day period gives more time for mailed ballots to find their owners. However, if the board decides to go with the 48 hour ratification process, and the majority of membership vote to ratify the terms, then we would likely be back at work on Wednesday.
I hope I’ve answered more questions than I’ve raised. I would suggest coming to the meeting tomorrow with an open mind. I would also highly suggest coming to the meeting tomorrow. It will not only ensure that you have all the information, and that your voice will be heard when the board measures their decision on Sunday, it will also ensure that the board gets a representative idea of where we stand as a membership.
When and where is the meeting again?
Saturday February 9
New York: 2pm. Broadway Ballroom of the Crowne Plaza Hotel Times Square, 1606 Broadway (Broadway and 49th Street)
Los Angeles: 7pm. Shrine Auditorium, 649 W Jefferson Blvd 90007.
Current active members only. Picture ID will be required for entry. Parking at the Shrine will be provided.
Hope to see you all there.
New York Meeting Only Nineteen Hours Away
The New York meeting of the WGAE will take place at 2 pm ET tomorrow in the Broadway Ballroom of the Crowne Plaza Hotel at Times Square, 1606 Broadway (Broadway and 49th Street).
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2/07/2008
Getting Ready for Saturday Night
The WGAw's general membership meeting will be held at the Shrine Auditoriumat at 7pm (NOT 6:30pm as we reported earlier) on Saturday night.
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As of Thursday afternoon, we are all still waiting on specific contract language. Lawyer and blogger Jonathan Handel has pulled together media reports of alleged WGA deal points on his Digital Media Law blog. But none of the rumors or media reports mean much. If it's not in the contract language, it's not real.
We've been emphasizing all week that a strong showing on the picket lines would give the WGA's lawyers and negotiators the maximum leverage to make sure the contract language is in keeping with what the companies pledged during informal talks. And the numbers this week have been great. WGA staff estimate that over 1500 turned out for today's mass picket at Disney.
But there's another bit of leverage at the WGA negotiators' disposal: the possibility of writers all going back to work quickly. For that reason, the prospect of ending the strike quickly is very valuable. If the contract language isn’t finished in good faith, that possibility would be destroyed.
As we wrote here earlier today, the WGA constitution lays out a few timelines for when the strike could be called off. One permissible timeline would have a ratification vote completed by Wednesday.
In light of that option, many members have contacted U.H. privately or posted comments stating the importance of having time to digest the deal points and make up their minds in a responsible way. Keenly aware that there are pilots, tv shows, movies, jobs and a popular ceremony hanging in the balance, they are not asking for weeks, but rather days. When weighed against the three-year life of this contract (or possibly twenty-year life, if DVDs are any indication) 72 hours seems a very reasonable request.
WGA presidents Patric Verrone and Michael Winship have stated that no action will be taken until some consensus emerges among the membership. We have faith that they will do that. When they say they will let the membership decide, we take them at their word.
Should it become clear on Saturday night that the memberships in New York and LA need a day or two to digest the deal points, we think they will respect that. Likewise, if it's clear that the majority of members strongly supports the contract, we could be back at work on Monday.
The WGA is a democratic union. We argue, we criticize, we make one another crazy. But during this strike, we have stood together with unprecedented and historic unity. We can make it a few more days if necessary.
No one inside or outside the union has forced us into anything, and that won't change now.
View Larger Map
As of Thursday afternoon, we are all still waiting on specific contract language. Lawyer and blogger Jonathan Handel has pulled together media reports of alleged WGA deal points on his Digital Media Law blog. But none of the rumors or media reports mean much. If it's not in the contract language, it's not real.
We've been emphasizing all week that a strong showing on the picket lines would give the WGA's lawyers and negotiators the maximum leverage to make sure the contract language is in keeping with what the companies pledged during informal talks. And the numbers this week have been great. WGA staff estimate that over 1500 turned out for today's mass picket at Disney.
But there's another bit of leverage at the WGA negotiators' disposal: the possibility of writers all going back to work quickly. For that reason, the prospect of ending the strike quickly is very valuable. If the contract language isn’t finished in good faith, that possibility would be destroyed.
As we wrote here earlier today, the WGA constitution lays out a few timelines for when the strike could be called off. One permissible timeline would have a ratification vote completed by Wednesday.
In light of that option, many members have contacted U.H. privately or posted comments stating the importance of having time to digest the deal points and make up their minds in a responsible way. Keenly aware that there are pilots, tv shows, movies, jobs and a popular ceremony hanging in the balance, they are not asking for weeks, but rather days. When weighed against the three-year life of this contract (or possibly twenty-year life, if DVDs are any indication) 72 hours seems a very reasonable request.
WGA presidents Patric Verrone and Michael Winship have stated that no action will be taken until some consensus emerges among the membership. We have faith that they will do that. When they say they will let the membership decide, we take them at their word.
Should it become clear on Saturday night that the memberships in New York and LA need a day or two to digest the deal points, we think they will respect that. Likewise, if it's clear that the majority of members strongly supports the contract, we could be back at work on Monday.
The WGA is a democratic union. We argue, we criticize, we make one another crazy. But during this strike, we have stood together with unprecedented and historic unity. We can make it a few more days if necessary.
No one inside or outside the union has forced us into anything, and that won't change now.
2/05/2008
Letter To Membership From WGA Presidents
This was sent today to WGA members from Presidents Verrone and Winship. Emphasis is mine -- because I think it's incredibly important. --LK
To Our Fellow Members,
As Negotiating Committee Chair John Bowman wrote you last night, we are continuing to negotiate the terms of a tentative agreement with the AMPTP. We anticipate that we will be able to present the terms of that agreement to you in the next few days. In order to have a full discussion with you of the terms and how they were reached, and in order to get your input before making recommendations or decisions, we have scheduled membership meetings for current-active members only for this Saturday, February 9, in New York and Los Angeles.
The New York meeting will take place at 2 pm ET in the Broadway Ballroom of the Crowne Plaza Hotel at Times Square, 1606 Broadway (Broadway and 49th Street).
The Los Angeles meeting will take place at 7 pm PT in the Shrine Auditorium (665 W. Jefferson Blvd.).
We urge you to attend. We have gotten to this point in our negotiation as the direct result of the power of this strike, which each of you has generated. Neither the Negotiating Committee, nor the West Board or the East Council, will take action on any contract until after the membership meetings are held and your voices have been heard. We are all in this together.
Best,
Patric M. Verrone
President
Writers Guild of America, West
Michael Winship
President
Writers Guild of America, East
Hope and Strategy: How to Handle the Rest of This Week
While the weekend and Monday saw rumors of "the strike's over," some caution has finally entered the dialogue. Here is the opening of Variety's main strike article today:
All of the above media accounts are based on off-the-record information. U.H. has collected very reliable info, some shaken loose with the assistance of alcohol, but we will not report it lest we risk even the appearance of breaking the ongoing news blackout. Unlike other media outlets, the security guard at WGA headquarters greets this one as, "Oh, hi. You again."
Until actual contract points are announced in preparation for Saturday's membership meeting, we should not draw any conclusions about where we stand. Clearly, there are leaks going on. But leaks serve the AMPTP more than the writers. It's in the AMPTP's interest to have everyone thinking it's safe to tune out. (On Sunday, my 93-year-old grandfather told me, "So! I hear the strike's over!") If the writers aren't paying attention or maintaining strength, the AMPTP's lawyers will attempt to water down the contract language from whatever the CEOs agreed to in principle.
There's no conspiracy behind this, it's simply the culture of Hollywood business affairs. Lawyers for the conglomerates score points by whittling down deal points. (That’s why I never start working w/o a signed and executed longform contract. -LK.)
The spin the AMPTP hopes to spread is nicely represented in this illustration whipped up by WGA supporter and graphics genius Rubberpoultry during yesterday's U.H. Live broadcast:
After everything that workers in the industry have sacrificed, it would be catastrophic to see a possible conclusion to this strike derailed by a membership that's no longer paying attention or overaggressive factions trying to rush a delicate undertaking. Of the latter possibility, Nikki writes: "[N]ow is the time for everyone to back off. That's right, BACK OFF. And to let the WGA leadership talk to its board and also its membership without outside interference." Allow me to second that. I'd prefer not to be writing a post like this again in six months.
Now's the time to stay strong, show our solidarity and stay focused. So far, so good: Over 1,330 picketers took to the lines Monday. Let's keep it going.
"As the lawyers work overtime to hammer out the details, scenarios are emerging that could -- underline could -- bring an end to the WGA strike by as early as next week.The LA Times ("Guild board favors deal, with caution") reports that the WGA board is "holding off on giving its blessing [to any deal] until it sees the exact language in the contract." And Nikki Finke ("Strike Status Report") writes,
Insiders are strongly warning that many aspects remain to be ironed out in the contract being drafted between the Writers Guild of America and Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers, and that the process could be derailed by even a seemingly small dispute over contract language."
"[T]here are genuine concerns that the negotiating committee and the board may not approve the deal, even though Verrone, Young and Bowman are behind it. (Though the votes do not have to be unanimous.) There are also genuine concerns that the WGA membership may not approve the deal -- like what happened during the 1960 strike."So, yeah. Strike's not over. How can we get there? It all comes down to contract language.
All of the above media accounts are based on off-the-record information. U.H. has collected very reliable info, some shaken loose with the assistance of alcohol, but we will not report it lest we risk even the appearance of breaking the ongoing news blackout. Unlike other media outlets, the security guard at WGA headquarters greets this one as, "Oh, hi. You again."
Until actual contract points are announced in preparation for Saturday's membership meeting, we should not draw any conclusions about where we stand. Clearly, there are leaks going on. But leaks serve the AMPTP more than the writers. It's in the AMPTP's interest to have everyone thinking it's safe to tune out. (On Sunday, my 93-year-old grandfather told me, "So! I hear the strike's over!") If the writers aren't paying attention or maintaining strength, the AMPTP's lawyers will attempt to water down the contract language from whatever the CEOs agreed to in principle.
There's no conspiracy behind this, it's simply the culture of Hollywood business affairs. Lawyers for the conglomerates score points by whittling down deal points. (That’s why I never start working w/o a signed and executed longform contract. -LK.)
The spin the AMPTP hopes to spread is nicely represented in this illustration whipped up by WGA supporter and graphics genius Rubberpoultry during yesterday's U.H. Live broadcast:
After everything that workers in the industry have sacrificed, it would be catastrophic to see a possible conclusion to this strike derailed by a membership that's no longer paying attention or overaggressive factions trying to rush a delicate undertaking. Of the latter possibility, Nikki writes: "[N]ow is the time for everyone to back off. That's right, BACK OFF. And to let the WGA leadership talk to its board and also its membership without outside interference." Allow me to second that. I'd prefer not to be writing a post like this again in six months.
Now's the time to stay strong, show our solidarity and stay focused. So far, so good: Over 1,330 picketers took to the lines Monday. Let's keep it going.
2/04/2008
Verrone: If We Lose That Solidarity, They Take Advantage of It Big Time
UPDATE: WGAw membership meeting this Saturday, February 9, at 6:30 PM. Shrine Auditorium, 649 W Jefferson Blvd 90007.
Last Friday, WGAw President Patric Verrone gave this interview to United Hollywood's Jeff Berman. When asked about rumors, Verrone says flatly, "They're never true."
Last Friday, WGAw President Patric Verrone gave this interview to United Hollywood's Jeff Berman. When asked about rumors, Verrone says flatly, "They're never true."
Bowman: Negotiations Continue, Meeting This Weekend
UPDATE: There will be a WGAw membership meeting on MBA negotiations this Saturday, February 9, at 6:30 PM. Shrine Auditorium, 649 W Jefferson Blvd 90007. Parking at the Shrine will be provided. Members should bring picture ID. Directions to the Shrine here.
The following letter from negotiations chair John Bowman was just sent to WGA members. Clear your weekend calendar, sounds like there will be some news by then. But until then, all we have is speculation. -JA
Dear Fellow Members,
I would like to update you on where we stand with bargaining with the AMPTP. While we have made important progress since the companies re-engaged us in serious talks, negotiations continue. Regardless of what you hear or read, there are many significant points that have yet to be worked out.
In order to keep members abreast of the latest developments, informational meetings are being planned by both Guilds for this weekend – details to be announced. Neither the Negotiating Committee, nor the West Board or the East Council, will take action on the contract until after the membership meetings.
As the talks proceed, never forget that during this period it is critical for us to remain on the picket lines united and strong. We are all in this together.
In Solidarity,
John F. Bowman
Chair, WGA Negotiating Committee
The following letter from negotiations chair John Bowman was just sent to WGA members. Clear your weekend calendar, sounds like there will be some news by then. But until then, all we have is speculation. -JA
Dear Fellow Members,
I would like to update you on where we stand with bargaining with the AMPTP. While we have made important progress since the companies re-engaged us in serious talks, negotiations continue. Regardless of what you hear or read, there are many significant points that have yet to be worked out.
In order to keep members abreast of the latest developments, informational meetings are being planned by both Guilds for this weekend – details to be announced. Neither the Negotiating Committee, nor the West Board or the East Council, will take action on the contract until after the membership meetings.
As the talks proceed, never forget that during this period it is critical for us to remain on the picket lines united and strong. We are all in this together.
In Solidarity,
John F. Bowman
Chair, WGA Negotiating Committee
2/03/2008
Letter From the Presidents - State of Negotiations
This was sent today by WGA Presidents Patric Verrone and Michael Winship to membership:
To Our Fellow Members,
While fully mindful of the continuing media blackout, we write you to address the rumors and reports that undoubtedly you have been hearing.
The facts: we are still in talks and do not yet have a contract. When and if a tentative agreement is reached, the first thing we will do is alert our membership with an e-mail message. Until then, please disregard rumors about either the existence of an agreement or its terms.
Until we have reached an agreement with the AMPTP, it is essential that we continue to show our resolve, solidarity, and strength.
Picketing will resume on Monday. Our leverage at the bargaining table is directly affected by your commitment to our cause. Please continue to show your support on the line. We are all in this together.
Best,
Patric M. Verrone
President, WGAW
Michael Winship
President, WGAE
To Our Fellow Members,
While fully mindful of the continuing media blackout, we write you to address the rumors and reports that undoubtedly you have been hearing.
The facts: we are still in talks and do not yet have a contract. When and if a tentative agreement is reached, the first thing we will do is alert our membership with an e-mail message. Until then, please disregard rumors about either the existence of an agreement or its terms.
Until we have reached an agreement with the AMPTP, it is essential that we continue to show our resolve, solidarity, and strength.
Picketing will resume on Monday. Our leverage at the bargaining table is directly affected by your commitment to our cause. Please continue to show your support on the line. We are all in this together.
Best,
Patric M. Verrone
President, WGAW
Michael Winship
President, WGAE
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