SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT...

December 7, 2007

The WGA’s organizers sent a letter to WGA members today that contains a series of factual mistakes.

WGA Organizer Statement

“[T]he companies had requested a four-day break so they could work on their proposals.”

The Facts

On Nov. 29, the WGA’s organizers requested the four-day break after the producers presented their proposed New Economic Partnership.

The producers “told us they would have new proposals.”

The Facts

The producers did present a new proposal, the New Economic Partnership, which would increase the average working writer’s salary to more than $230,000 a year.  The WGA’s organizers have yet to respond directly to that proposal, preferring instead to focus on jurisdictional issues in the areas of reality and animation television.

WGA Organizer Statement

“We have been at the negotiating table every day, willing to bargain.”

The Facts

The WGA’s organizers actually spend relatively little time at the negotiating table.  The WGA’s organizers sought a four-day break, and when they returned sessions that were supposed to begin at 10:00 am often did not start until after lunchtime. When they are at the negotiating site, WGA organizers typically spend as much time speaking among themselves as they do at the negotiating table.

“We will remain at the table every day, for as long as it takes, to make a fair deal.”

The Facts

The WGA’s organizers refused repeated requests by the producers to begin negotiations much earlier, in the spring of 2007.  Had negotiations begun when the producers wanted them to start, perhaps the industry would not now be in the midst of this strike.