Writers Strong, Producers Cracking?

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/01/09/writers-strong-producers-cracking/

by Mike Hall, Jan 9, 2008

Union solidarity remains high for striking movie and television writers with the Screen Actors (SAG), the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and other unions standing strong with the Writers Guild of America. But it looks like producer solidarity may be cracking.



United Artists (UA) is the first major movie studio to sign an independent agreement with the Writers Guild of America, the union announced yesterday. The pact with United Artists follows an agreement the writers signed last month with David Letterman’s Worldwide Pants production company, allowing Letterman’s “Late Show” and Craig Ferguson’s “The Late Late Show” to go back on the air with its writing staff and no picket line for guests to cross.

The writers have been on strike against movie and television production companies since Nov. 5, fighting for a new contract that includes a fair share of revenues from Internet and electronic distribution of material they’ve written.

In a joint letter from Michael Winship, president of the Writers Guild of America, East (WAGE), and Patric M. Verrone, president of the Writers Guild of America, West (WAGW), the union leaders say they hope the agreement with United Artists will spur other production companies to do the same. The industry group, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), stalked out of contract talks last month.

FULL story at link.

[annabanana]

1. This is a hopeful sign.

My distress at the restart of the Stewart & Colbert programs is mollified by their on-air support & the positive publicity for the writers that they've been doing..