This just in from AMPAS: We never asked for a waiver

To the members of the Academy:

Some reports in the press today (12/18) stated that the Academy had been denied a waiver by the WGA that would have allowed Guild writers to work on the telecast of the 80th Annual Academy Awards. In fact, the Academy has not requested such a waiver, nor has the Guild told the Academy whether such a request would or wouldn't be viewed favorably.

As it does each year, the Academy recently requested from the WGA a waiver in connection with any film clips and excerpts from past Oscar telecasts that might be shown on the upcoming Academy Awards telecast. The Academy was informed last night that the Guild would not grant that waiver, stating that to do so would not advance the Guild's goals in its current efforts to achieve a collective bargaining agreement. This decision affects only the conditions under which we may use such material, not our ability to do so.

The Academy remains committed to presenting its Awards on February 24, and will continue to work with all parties to achieve that goal.

Comments

[RCMartin]

You might as will kiss the strike “Goodbye”, once the Union allows “Any” writers to return via a separate agreement.

I.E… Allowing writers to work on the “Late Night Shows”

Once upon a time…

There was a strong “Carpenter’s Union”. They went on strike for an extra 75cents an hour.

They were on strike for a few weeks, when one contractor (producer) found out that he was going to be billed for not having his job finished on time.

So, he went to the Union and said, “I will pay Tuesday for a hamburger today.”
OK, he asked, “If you let my carpenters work today, “I will pay them the future per hour rate, after the Union settles the strike.”

The Union said, “That sounds fair”, and let the carpenters go back to work.

Now the other contractors (producers) heard of this, so they went to the Union and each made separate deals. Each saying, “I will pay Tuesday for a hamburger today.”

The Union agreed. What’s the harm letting a few workers go back to work?

Amazingly, the Union discovered, “Hey, where are the striking carpenters?!”

Well, “They’re out on the job sites.”

“How come?”

“We agreed to let one crew go back, now they’re all back to work.”

“But, we Never settled!”

“Precisely.”