As expected, WGA members voted overwhelmingly to approve a pattern of demands for the Guild’s upcoming film and television contract negotiations, which begin March 20.
The combined WGA West and WGA East votes were 5,553-90 (98.4 & -1.6%). The WGA’s current contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers expires May 1 amid growing concerns about a possible writers’ strike.
In comparison, three years ago there were 3,028-308 votes in favor of the claims model (90.7%-9.3%). The recent vote is also consistent with the vote for the demands that eventually led to the WGA’s 100-day strike in 2007-08, when 96% of members voted in favor.
The required pattern required by the guild charter is a list of general objectives for the negotiations and is formed through member surveys, member interviews and media industry research. A yes to the demands was unanimously recommended by the negotiation committee of the WKV as well as by the board of the WKV West and the council of the WKV East.
Here is the full pattern of requirements, broken down into three categories:
Compensation and arrears:
- Substantial increase in the minimum fee to counter the devaluation of writing in all areas of television, new media and feature films.
- Uniform compensation and residual terms for feature films, both in theaters and in streaming.
- Take action against the misuse of mini rooms.
- Ensures proper compensation for writing television series throughout the process of pre-production and post-production.
- Extend surge protection to cover all TV writers.
- Apply the MBA minimum to comedy variety shows created for new media.
- More residuals for undercompensated reuse markets.
- Limit uncompensated use of excerpts.
Pension insurance and health insurance:
- Increase contributions to the pension fund and health insurance fund.
Professional Standards and Precautions in Employing Writers:
- Functional contracts where compensation falls below a certain threshold require weekly payment of compensation and a minimum of two steps.
- Strengthening the regulation of options and exclusivity in employment contracts for television writers.
- Regulate the use of material created using artificial intelligence or similar technologies.
- Take action to combat discrimination and harassment and promote equal pay
- Review and expand all referee lists.
In a recent message to members urging them to adopt the required pattern, WGA executives wrote that the upcoming contract talks “will take place in the context of a growing media industry, despite short-term profitability declines affecting some companies that remain highly profitable.. The overarching goal of our negotiating committee will be to build on the profits from previous deals and ensure that the authors get a fair share of the revenue generated from the content they create.
In a bulletin released last week examining in more detail the WGA’s campaign to investigate WGA’s new media coverage and streaming backlog as a result of the 2007-2008 strike, the WGA said: “Despite its pattern, more dire predictions have earned the studios success in every major modern money-making technological advance to not only stay afloat, but to thrive. Along the way, they’ve made vague promises that key players like writers will eventually do their share Last but not least, history has shown that with each new technological advance in the industry, there is a substantial risk that writers and other talent will not receive fair compensation for the repurposing of their work .”
Source: Deadline
Bernice Bonaparte is an author and entertainment journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a passion for pop culture and a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest entertainment news, Bernice has become a trusted source for information on the entertainment industry.
