WGA-AMPTP TALKS RESUME

I predicted in my January 1st post that the AMPTP would pressure the WGA to drop its jurisdiction proposals as a condition of resuming talks. I thought the pressure would come before the DGA deal, but coming after still makes sense. Below is part of the WGA press release announcing the resumption of informal talks. Here's the message sent out by the WGA:

"We have responded favorably to the invitation from the AMPTP to enter into informal talks that will help establish a reasonable basis for returning to negotiations. During this period we have agreed to a complete news blackout. We are grateful for this opportunity to engage in meaningful discussion with industry leaders that we hope will lead to a contract. We ask that all members exercise restraint in their public statements during this critical period.

 

In order to make absolutely clear our commitment to bringing a speedy conclusion to negotiations we have decided to withdraw our proposals on reality and animation. Our organizing efforts to achieve Guild representation in these genres for writers will continue. You will hear more about this in the next two weeks.


 

On another issue, the Writers Guild, West Board of Directors has voted not to picket the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Members of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) face many of the same issues concerning compensation in new media that we do.  In the interest of advancing  our goal of achieving a fair contract, the WGAW Board felt that this gesture should be made on behalf our brothers and sisters in AFM and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA)."

From United Hollywood

Potential DGA deal looming

clipped from unitedhollywood.blogspot.com This is still a rumor, but it's definitely gaining steam -- word is spreading that the DGA has finalized a deal with the congloms, and will announce the deal tomorrow. We don't know what the terms of the deal will be, if indeed it does exist. We're not going to speculate because, if it's true, we'll find out the specifics soon enough. But we over at UH will make one suggestion: everyone stay calm. That's the only way we can really be prepared for the unexpected -- is to stop expecting anything. When and if the DGA announces their deal, it will take some time for all of us to analyze the terms of that deal and see if they're acceptable to us as a guild or not. We're inevitably going to argue and disagree; we'll need to do it civilly, and calmly.

1ST SIGN OF THINGS TO COME

AMPTP AND DGA AGREE TO BEGIN FORMAL CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS; Apted Says "Within Shouting Distance"

The AMPTP just made this announcement. Talks begin tomorrow and I'm told this news reflects significant "progress." Indeed, DGA President Michael Apted told members in a letter today "We would not enter negotiations with the AMPTP unless we were within shouting distance of an agreement on our two most important issues: jurisdiction for our members to work in new media and appropriate compensation for the reuse of our work on the Internet and other new media platforms." But Apted also noted: "There are still hurdles to jump."

AMPTP REACHES OUT

CBS Chief Moonves Wants to Get Back to Table With Writers

Says “Steps Being Taken” to Restart Talks

By Mike Farrell -- Multichannel News, 1/10/2008 1:27:00 PM

CBS head honcho Les Moonves hinted at an industry conference Thursday that the television giant is trying to restart negotiations with the striking Writers Guild of America, but offered no details as to what that those efforts entail.

Moonves, speaking at the Citigroup Entertainment, Media & Telecommunications conference in Phoenix, stressed that the writers strike is not having an adverse impact on the network so far.

“We sincerely hope that the talks begin shortly and that there is a resolution,” Moonves said. “I can tell you there are some steps that are being taken to push that ahead, and we hope that reasonable people prevail and that we can make a go of it in the near future.”

WGA STRIKE - THE VIEW FROM HERE

I thought I would bring in the new year with my prediction for the next moves in the AMPTP v. WGA chess match. I see the AMPTP waiting for the psychological impact of the returning late shows combined with an initial conversation or two with the DGA to fan the flames of the already substantial anxiety created by their silence before reluctantly suggesting a return to the table through back-channel reduction of their “ultimatum” down to the jurisdiction and sympathy strike issues. They hope the WGA will drop jurisdiction which will help them on the DGA front, but once back at the table they will not make a counter offer to the WGA proposal. They will find a long-winded way of representing their initial offer in different clothes. They will leak significant progress with the DGA while pressing the writers to cave on financial definition issues.

I can't wait to see how reality matches up with my predictions.