Winship asks for end to speculation

In an indication of how WGA leaders have cooled down their rhetoric now that they're in informal talks with moguls, WGA East president Michael Winship has asked members to put a lid on speculation about a possible tentative deal. That's quite a contrast with Winship's Dec. 10 opening statement to members after negotiations with the AMPTP cratered -- "They lie. And then they lie again. And then they lie some more.

Winship also said in his latest missive, sent out Monday, that members need to stay active on the picket lines. "More than ever, it is critical that we keep up the pressure on the media conglomerates and various struck shows with our picket lines, rallies and other actions that convey our message and demonstrate our impact on the entertainment industry," he noted.

The entire message is after the jump.

- D. McNary

Fellow Members of the Writers Guild of America, East: "This is not a time for doubt, baseless speculation or second-guessing," he said. "All is being done to achieve a contract that is fair and respectful to writers. Leadership is moving forward with caution and diligence."

Solidarity and strength have gotten us to where we are in this strike so far. We have, as Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, organized our strength into compelling power.

Patience and perseverance, added to that unity and power, will now take us the rest of the way.

As you know, last week, informal talks began in Los Angeles between the Writers Guilds and some of the studio and network heads with the goal of returning the AMPTP to the bargaining table.

This is not a time for doubt, baseless speculation or second-guessing. All is being done to achieve a contract that is fair and respectful to writers. Leadership is moving forward with caution and diligence.

More than ever, it is critical that we keep up the pressure on the media conglomerates and various struck shows with our picket lines, rallies and other actions that convey our message and demonstrate our impact on the entertainment industry.

Last week, here in the East, two events were especially significant, capturing the attention of the media and public.

On Tuesday, when the Academy Award nominations were announced in Hollywood, we held a press conference at The Players Club on the south end of Manhattan's Gramercy Park. Assembled were forty or so writers and actors who arrived with all their awards - Oscars, Emmys, Tonys, Writers Guild Awards - the works.

They held them high for the cameras as they announced that glittering prizes are wonderful to receive and that they're grateful to have their work recognized, but they'd trade all the gold and brass and bronze for a decent, fair resolution to the writers' strike. Among the attendees was Tony Gilroy, fresh from two Oscar nominations for "Michael
Clayton." Sitting in front was 90-year-old, three-time Academy Award nominee Celeste Holm. Her best-supporting actress Oscar for the 1947 movie "Gentlemen's Agreement" is out on loan. For our occasion, she borrowed one that had belonged to Gary Cooper.

The following day, we traveled to Washington with eight striking writers from "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" and "The Colbert Report." Serious talks about the strike were held with various members of Congress but the centerpiece was a mock debate staged in a House committee hearing room by the Stewart and Colbert writers.

Three of the Stewart gang - Tim Carvell, Rob Kutner and Jason Ross - represented the writers. Three Colbert writers - Michael Brumm, Peter Grosz and Tom Purcell -- stood in for the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). Former Clinton White House Press Secretary DeeDee Myers moderated, Kevin Bleyer of the Stewart show and Colbert's Peter Gwinn played hecklers in the audience. You can view highlights at:
http://unitedhollywood.blogspot.com/2008/01/daily-show-and-colbert-writers-mock.html .

What's more, we continue to announce interim contracts with a variety of independent production companies, many of which are active not only in television and motion pictures but in the very areas so important to us in our proposed contract - the Internet and new media. The latest companies to sign include Lionsgate, RKO, Marvel Studios, The Weinstein Company, Spyglass Entertainment, MRC, Jackson Bites, and Mandate Films.

This week's picket information can be found on the Guild website, www.wgaeast.org. Smaller pickets continue Monday through Thursday at various struck programs. The week's "big" picket will be on Friday, February 1, from 11-2 outside the "One Life To Live" studios, 55 West 66th Street between Columbus and CPW.

Continued thanks to all of you - members and Guild staff alike - who continue to work so hard to make this strike a success. Babe Ruth used to say that it's hard to beat a person who never gives up. You're proving him right. Patience, perseverance and courage will carry the day.

In solidarity,
Michael Winship
President
Writers Guild of America, East

Comments

[justice4writers]

Hey michael,

The Newspaper Guild recently charged WGAE Executive Director Mona Mangan with threatening to discipline the staff's union representative for insubordination when she took issue with Mangan over her handling of the dispute." Coincidently, that employee was let go on Friday because of "budget cuts."

Another NLRB charge deals with the Writers Guild's attempt to exert financial pressure on TNG members by threatening to withdraw previously approved holiday bonuses unless the Newspaper Guild dropped its grievance over the wage increase owed, and signed the WGAE's revised contract.

Hold all the events you want. Its all a hypocritical circus. Don't thank the staff in your letters and do nothing as they're abused while they work diligently for you & the WGAE writers. You're no labor leader. Quote Martin Luther King and Babe Ruth all you want - it doesn't make you a leader or hero. You are judged by your own actions and they are those of a coward who gets bitch-slapped by Mona Mangan. Got any quotes for that?

[eringobite me]

I think the topic is the writers' strike, not the airing of puported dirty laundry by a disgruntled employee. Winship has been a tireless fighter in this battle and I might add FOR FREE! He is not paid for his labors, he is actuallly trying to do the right thing. So if you are looking for justice, why dont you think about that.

[ed]

So, back to the article about ending speculation. What do you suppose this means?

[Fi Core]

It means that you guys are about 2 get screwed,and any one with a opinion to shut up

[justice4writers]

so as long as Winship is working in the best interest of writers, everyone else be damed? that's not unionism. everything said in my previous comment was true. let Winship prove otherwise and i will apologize.

the topic of the writers strike is fair pay for work. what do you think the topic is - fair pay ONLY for writers? its the WGA who has been asking for public support, and getting it, from day one - now the public doesn't matter - they don't deserve the same rights you do?

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
-Martin Luther King Jr.,

i'm not a disgruntled employee. i'm a unionist. and proud of it. what are you?

[eringobiteme]

I know I am but what are you? What are you, six years old? I am a proud union member, not an AMPTP troll, or perhaps is it disgruntled ex-employee? But it's always easiest when you can snipe from the privacy of your bedroom computer. Rather than being on the frontline and fighting, like Winship.

[justice4writers]

i continue to walk the lines with my fellow writers. I support my union and our negotiating committee 100%. I also support SAG, AFTRA, IATSE and The Newspaper Guild for protecting their members (TNG reps the WGAE employees).

i'm not arguing about the merits of the WGA, but lets all get behind doing the right thing for the right reasons. peace.

[ed]

Sigh. It was just a joke guys... "end the speculation" and then asking to speculate... So, everyone take a breath, things are in process with legitimate signs of progress from both sides.

[Fi Core]

Yea they are,a few piliots are starting production and some btl line crews are getting calls

[Stuart Creque]

justice4writers, I agree with you: it is not all right for any employer to trample the rights of its union employees, even if that employer is itself a union -- ESPECIALLY if that employer is itself a union, and ESPECIALLY if that employing union it itself on strike for fairness. The Newspaper Guild supports the rights of WGA members to a fair contract, and they have the right and expectation that the WGA East will honor a fair contract that it negotiated with them. The WGA East should step up to that obligation simply out of labor solidarity, if for no other reason.