Writers Guild sketches out goals for upcoming contract talks
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
Even before Hollywood’s actors have completed their own contract negotiations with the studios, film and TV writers aren’t wasting any time penning their own bargaining goals.
This week the Writers Guild of America, West, unveiled one in a series of contract bulletins that outlines some of the issues it intends to highlight during upcoming negotiations to replace the current contract, which expires in May.
The bulletin contained no real surprises: the guild says one of its main priorities is to increase contributions to the union’s health and pension plans, citing rising costs and steep market declines that have reduced investment returns. That’s also a front-burner issue for both the Screen Actors Guild , the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and the Directors Guild of America.
The Writers Guild also signaled that it wants to crack down on such industry practices as having screenwriters submit multiple pitches before they are hired for work. The union said it also will seek higher script fees and residuals for writers who work in basic cable television, arguing that their pay rates haven’t kept pace with the growth of such shows as AMC’s ‘Mad Men’ and FX’s ‘Damages.’
— Richard Verrier
