picket at Brave New Films

How the WGA Won: A Behind the Scenes Look at the WGA Strike

2008-07-09T20:09:46Z

Huffington Post: The writers strike that shut down Hollywood for more than three months officially began in November, but the groundwork was laid much earlier. It started with something the town rarely notices: a routine, biannual WGA election.

Back in 2005, there was already a growing consensus that the negotiations in '07 would be a turning point in the Guild's history, one way or another. As this awareness took shape, WGA members were approached by an unlikely group of leaders.

In 2005, Patric M. Verrone and David N. Weiss ("Weiss"), the candidates for President and Vice President of the WGA, were successful, but relatively unknown writers with the bulk of their work in animation. When Weiss, a friend of mine, told me he was running, I told him he was insane. To really appreciate how insane, you'd have to meet his wife, Eliana. Some writers manage to marry above themselves. Weiss is a good example. You'd also have to meet his kids. Coming from a political background myself, I asked Weiss why he would want to risk losing them in exchange for something as inconsequential as the Guild.

What’s the Deal with Strikes These Days?

2008-06-14T21:30:10Z

Coming from Chicago, the very idea of “scabbing” or crossing the picket line is cause for a public flogging. But that’s in the city of Big Shoulders and a very different time. In recent years, it seems that striking has become a form of protest that is less and less effective. It seems that more and more people are willing to cross the picket line in favor of work and unions and bosses are less willing to negotiate and return to the bargaining table as a result. Wages are lost and livelihoods are put at risk. It also seems like people are willing to support striking workers as long as it is convenient to them and doesn’t make them deviate from their routine. So, leverage disappears as long as someone is willing to patron a store, or take the vacant union job. Maybe that’s why strikes have gone from lasting 15-30 days to 3-6 months.

In the meantime, it’s the people who aren’t striking that sometimes are hit the hardest. Experts from an email to a NYT columnist from a Key Grip on “The Office."

Support striking workers, and don't scab!

“Our show was shut down and we were all laid off this week. I’ve been watching the news since the WGA strike was announced and I have yet to see any coverage dedicated to the effect that this strike will have on the below the line employees.
I respect the WGA’s position. They probably do deserve a larger percentage of profit participation, but a lengthy strike will affect more than just the writers and studios. On my show we had 14 writers. There were also 2 cameramen, 2 camera assistants, 4 hair stylists, 4 makeup artists, 7 wardrobe people, 4 grips, 4 electricians, 2 craft service, 4 props people, 6 construction, 1 medic, 3 art department, 5 set dressers, 3 sound men, 3 stand-ins, 2 set PAs, 4 assistant directors, 1 DGA trainee, 1 unit manager, 6 production office personnel, 3 casting people, 4 writers assistants, 1 script supervisor, 2 editors, 2 editors assistants, 3 post production personnel, 1 facilities manager, 8 drivers, 2 location managers, 3 accountants, 4 caterers and a producer who’s not a writer. All 102 of us are now out of work.
I have been in the motion picture business for 33 years and have survived three major strikes. None of which have been by any of the below the line unions. During the 1988 WGA strike many of my friends lost their homes, cars and even spouses. Many actors are publicly backing the writers, some have even said that they would find a way to help pay bills for the striking writers. When the networks run out of new shows and they air repeats the writers will be paid residuals. The lowest paid writer in television makes roughly twice the salary than the below the line crewmember makes. Everyone should be paid their fair share, but does it have to be at the expense of the other 90% of the crewmembers. Nobody ever recoups from a strike, lost wages are just that, lost.
We all know that the strike will be resolved. Eventually both sides will return to the bargaining table and make a deal. The only uncertainty is how many of our houses, livelihoods, college educations and retirement funds will pay for it.”

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