Good news! Late Friday evening, the AMPTP finally agreed to return to the negotiating table with WGA leaders on Monday, November 26th.
And while that doesn’t mean the strike is over — not by a longshot! We will continue to strike and man our picket lines at full force for the duration of the talks — it is a good sign that the AMPTP are at least agreeing to meet again.
I’m not sure what spurred the studios into action — maybe they just got sick of looking like soulless corporate assholes! — or even if I trust their motives at this point, but I do welcome their decision to return to the bargaining table. So, welcome back, greed-meisters! And please, try not to screw us over too bad.
Rather that go on about the details, I’ve decided instead to reprint excerpts from a super cool e-mail that went out tonight from our rocking WGA Prez, Patric Verrone. Wow, no wonder he’s the head of our guild, this dude can write!
Enjoy, and que viva la union!
To My Fellow Members:
This evening the WGA and the AMPTP announced that we will resume negotiations on Monday, November 26. This announcement is a direct result of your efforts. It is the direct result of the hours you have spent on the picket lines, the days you’ve spent educating friends and colleagues, the boundless energy you’ve put into engaging with not only the Hollywood talent community, but people all over the country and the world. It is a direct result of your dedication to this union and to each other.
Over the past two weeks we have shown incredible resolve and resourcefulness. Every fifteen minutes someone sends me an e-mail with a new suggestion or a copy of a supportive news article or an entertaining and informative pro-writer YouTube video. Actors, local legislators, fans, and fellow members of the Hollywood workforce joined us in droves on our picketing lines this week. SAG’s Alan Rosenberg and I were warmly welcomed in Washington D.C. and offered support from every member of Congress with whom we met. These developments all undoubtedly contributed to the decision to return to the table.
For 12 days I have repeated that a powerful strike means a short strike. In that time we have proven that bad news won’t slow us down. Now it is equally important that we now prove that good news won’t slow us down, either. We must remember that returning to the bargaining table is only a start. Our work is not done until we achieve a good contract and that is by no means assured. Accordingly, what we achieve in negotiations will be a direct result of how successfully we can keep up our determination and resolve.
Once again, I thank you all for your efforts and ask you to continue to dedicate yourself to this cause with the same level of energy and enthusiasm that has gotten us to where we are today. We are all in this together.
Best,
Patric M. Verrone
President, WGAW
make. see. eat. do. 