Writers’ strike ends

Hundreds of Hollywood stars are set to go back to the work after the Writers Guild of America called an end to its strike.

Film and television writers in Southern California and New York voted overwhelmingly to end the 14-week-old strike against studios, networks and production companies. "The strike is over," WGA West President Patric Verrone announced. "Our membership has voted and writers can go back to work."

The Writers' Guild began their action on November 5 last year after disagreements over issues such as DVD residuals and compensation for "new media" content.

Work on top US shows such as Lost, Ugly Betty and Greys Anatomy ground to a halt as both writers and actors took to the picket lines.

The WGA refused to issue waivers for the Golden Globes Awards Ceremony, meaning the ceremony went ahead without presenters and acceptors, and without being televised. The Guild had also refused a waiver to the Oscars - but reached an agreement with major studios less than two weeks before the most glamorous awards ceremony in Hollywood.

On Sunday the East and West Coast Boards of the Guild unanimously recommended approval of a draft contract drawn up with the studios.

Verrone said 92.5 per cent of the 3,775 members who cast ballots or faxed in proxies for yesterday's [Tuesday's] vote were in favour of ending the 100-day strike. "This was not a strike we wanted, but one we had to conduct in order to win jurisdiction and establish appropriate residuals for writing in new media and on the Internet," he said in a statement. "Those advances now give us a foothold in the digital age. Rather than being shut out of the future of content creation and delivery, writers will lead the way as TV migrates to the Internet and platforms for new media are developed.'"

Ballots to ratify the agreement will be mailed to writers and a membership meeting will be held Feb. 25 to ratify the agreement. "This is the best deal this guild has bargained for in 30 years after the most successful strike this guild has waged in 35 years," Verrone said over the weekend.

"It's not all we deserve but as I told our members, this strike was about the future and this deal assures for us and for future generations of writers a share in the future."

WGA negotiating committee Chair John F. Bowman said it was the failure of the Golden Globes Awards last month that brought studio chief executives to the bargaining tables. "I think what happened at the Golden Globes brought the CEOs to the table," he said. "It was a huge symbol. You can't produce anything in this town without talent."

Under the pending three-year contract, residuals for movies and TV shows sold online are set to be doubled.

The WGA would also be given jurisdiction over content created specifically for the Web, above certain budget thresholds. And like directors, writers will receive a 3.5 percent per year increase in minimum pay rates for television and film work.

The strike has cost WGA members an estimated $273 million in wages since it began on November 5, and cost other production workers represented by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees an estimated $471 million.

By Owen Williams, Feb 13 2008 © Copyright 2008 - Showbiz Spy