Here's what a Warner Bros spoksperson is telling me on the record: “These WARN notices were sent because in certain circumstances federal and California law can require employers to give notice of staffing changes. Due to the ongoing WGA work stoppage, some studio divisions will have to lay off employees. We regret the impact this will have on our employees, and we hope to bring them back to work once the WGA strike ends."
I'm told that Warner Bros sent "WARN" letters to the studio's facilities employees. The studio has to do this by law to put them on notice. My sources say this doesn't necessarily mean that they will get laid off and it doesn't mean all of them will. Also, it's possible that layoffs would be temporary. But people who've seen the letters say those laid off will be notified on Monday. It also says the studio won’t guarantee that those laid off will be rehired after the strike. In any case, it's rotten news. Which is why Warner Bros and the AMPTP need to get back to negotiating!
And so the fight for middle class money begins in earnest.
Since none of the execs who are forcing this strike would even consider taking a pay cut to save some jobs, they will threaten to layoff their middle class employees.
A cheaper company car? I think not. Fly business class instead of first class? HA.
Why do regular working people have to pay the price at every turn? Can’t any of these multi-millionaire moguls step up and act like a leader for once? Act like they care?
Sign the stupid contract with the writers already.
Comment by Jimmy — January 8, 2008 @ 3:14 pm
Nice that they do this the same day as promoting someone to a fat new paycheck!
Comment by Wanna-Writer-Be — January 8, 2008 @ 3:20 pm
AMPTP lay offs to show muscle
WGA cancels the Globes to show muscle
Fine, points are proven
Negotiate already
Comment by 40yearoldstitzer — January 8, 2008 @ 3:22 pm
None of the studio leaders have what it takes to be a leader. neither does the wga. shameful
Comment by oldschoolguy — January 8, 2008 @ 3:25 pm
Jimmy, the companies don’t work for the people, the people work for the companies. Since the heads of these companies ARE the companies, the people work for them. This is what has been accepted by human beings since communities began, there are masters and the mastered. Anybody who sides against Unions (and most people do) is obviously the mastered. As for the rest who don’t want to be mastered, there’s nothing we can do to change that. Not ever.
Comment by Douchezero — January 8, 2008 @ 3:37 pm
I agree - let’s focus our energy on getting back to the table…. Putting our energy into bashing executives will get us nowhere…. We need to focus on getting a settlement and getting back to work.
Comment by Anonymous — January 8, 2008 @ 3:41 pm
Why isn’t the AMPTP negotiating with the WGA or the DGA? Everyone is tired of taking pennies while they take millions. They don’t care about anyone but themselves. Start laying off the execs! Finally a good use of pink paper.
Comment by Buh Bye — January 8, 2008 @ 3:56 pm
Sure, blame this on management. They are evil for not taking pay cuts but the WGA is fighting for the little man. Whatever lets you sleep at night. Im sure Verrone flys coach.
Comment by Steve — January 8, 2008 @ 3:57 pm
Sounds like the studios are getting rid of employees they don’t necessarily want with the added bonus of getting to blame the writers. Warner Bros studio has been the biggest obstacle to getting a deal made. Those who are getting laid off should ask Sumner Redstone to explain himself.
Comment by ASK AUMNER — January 8, 2008 @ 4:01 pm
You’d think Warner Bros. would consider the PR of promoting two of their top execs while they are sending out letters of possible layoffs to their workers.
Gotta love Hollywood, U.S.A.!
(Then again, it’s not like the mainstream press will ever really make that connection)
Comment by Kevin — January 8, 2008 @ 4:03 pm
EXACTLY what Jimmy said.
For crying out loud already!!
I feel terrible for the people who are going to lose their jobs, and sympathize with non-writers who feel they are getting screwed. HOWEVER if the writers don’t stand up for their rights now, who is going to??
This fight is much bigger than Hollywood.
For all the writers out there, HANG IN THERE!! There is a lot of support behind you. I pray that you can continue to have the solidarity that has been an asset so far.
Blessings.
Comment by Amanda — January 8, 2008 @ 4:05 pm
Isn’t WB the only studio with a script processing department? And how many WB films are in production right now? Can’t imagine a ton of shooting scripts need to be copied/retyped there at the moment…
Comment by JBM... — January 8, 2008 @ 4:22 pm
Wait. I’m confused — weren’t the studios bragging about how much money they were saving, and how their 4th Quarters were going to be so profitable with the strike? What happened?
Comment by Confused — January 8, 2008 @ 4:32 pm
Since the moguls are compensated in part based on stock price performance, and the price of all the studios is down, they too have taken a hit.
Then whole industry has had at least a 25% pay cut because of this misguided strike. And only a handful of writers will ever see a benefitwhen it’s over.
Thanks WGA and AMPTP.
Comment by frustrated — January 8, 2008 @ 4:41 pm
I think it’s important that we don’t take any delight in this. They’re nice people, too.
Nick Counter’s another story, though. I hope it hurts when he pees.
Comment by Andy Gordon — January 8, 2008 @ 5:00 pm
Go figure, the little guy is getting screwed again. It’s no different in local tv. Trust me. And we’ve got nothing to do with any of this strike BS.
If the damn producers would just trade in the extra skim double-latte from Starbucks and give the writers what they want, we’d have all this crap fixed. Stupid, greedy producers.
Comment by Adam — January 8, 2008 @ 5:30 pm
As the corporate boat begins the sink, the first to be thrown out are the children, then the women, then the men, and finally, the CEO goes down with the ship.
A clever and brave ploy indeed!
Comment by Mark — January 8, 2008 @ 6:08 pm
Another deft and tasteless move by the Execs to put the fault/pressure on the Guild…
Comment by Eddie — January 8, 2008 @ 6:10 pm
I am a development executive at one of the major networks.
I am not now, nor have I ever been a WGA shill, pretending to be a development executive at one of the major networks. Because I would never do that.
My department is in a panic. With no writers, there is no development. We have no meetings to take, no notes to give, no pilots to guide, no series to make better.
It is only a matter of time before we are all fired.
Not one of us believes that what the writers are asking for is unreasonable. I don’t even think the head of the network believes what the writers are asking for is unreasonable — but he says that’s not the point.
He also says David Letterman will burn in Hell and Tom Cruise will burn in wherever Scientologists go to burn.
Did I mention that I am not a WGA shill?
Of course my boss doesn’t care about the writers and the below-the-line people, or even the audience. But he doesn’t care about us, either. We are completely expendable.
I look at this year’s holiday gift to the staff — a hoodie with “One Big Happy Family” stenciled on back — and I weep bitter tears.
The kind of tears that fall from the eyes of an actual network executive, rather than from something other than actual.
The only people on this lot with any job security are the AMPTP trolls.
They get paid minimum wage, but see this as the first step in their screenwriting careers. Unfortunately, I’ve read their spec scripts (they ALL have spec scripts) — don’t quit your day job, fellas!
That’s my professional opinion as a genuine
Network Executive.
Comment by So help me god. — January 8, 2008 @ 6:29 pm
Is WB aware they just sent a message to investors that they don’t have sufficient cash to weather the strike? That’s what I took away from their memo. I don’t care how big the future bonuses are at year end. As an investor - WB is saying it’s on shaky ground.
Now, if the CEO had offered to cut pay across the top this year, that’d be worth noting and a sign of good management. But, alas, not to be.
Might be worth watching Wall Street to see if there’s a quiet dump of entertainment stocks as a result of too many poor management decisions.
Comment by s — January 8, 2008 @ 6:32 pm
Any chance Nick Counter works at Warner Brothers and any chance he’s on the short list to be let go?
Comment by JBewkes — January 8, 2008 @ 6:56 pm
Ugh. News like this makes me sick to my stomach
Comment by Charlies — January 8, 2008 @ 6:57 pm
I’ve had friends out of work since day 1 - and these are $500 a week production people.
The impact of this strike hits harder and harder for everyone. Would someone just end the ball swinging, close the doors and wrap this up?
Even sadder? Many of the working people of this town, whose lives are being affected more and more, will never, EVER reap benefits from whatever agreement is made.
They’ll be lucky if they have a job waiting for them when this is all over.
Comment by Editor — January 8, 2008 @ 9:23 pm
“Not one of us believes that what the writers are asking for is unreasonable. I don’t even think the head of the network believes what the writers are asking for is unreasonable — but he says that’s not the point.” –So Help Me God
Well, WTF does he believe the point is, man?
AMPTP could end this in a second. But, noooo…
They just want to keep inflicting pain until someone screams uncle. Period. Special place in Hell set aside for these bastards.
Comment by D Dragon — January 9, 2008 @ 12:19 am
Some of you folks really need a reality check. Where you got the idea that studios would not lay off employees when the work dries up, is beyond me. Thinking that investors will see this as a bad thing is also naive, investors see laying off employees when production is shut down as a good thing.
Laying off the people that maintain an empty studio lot should not be unexpected. I have to wonder if any of you were in business if you wouldn’t do the same thing. It’s an expected outcome of a strike and no one should be surprised by this or reading anything into it other than it’s sad that some more folks will be losing thier jobs because of a strike.
Comment by Chips Down — January 9, 2008 @ 2:20 am
for what it’s worth, the writers (and I am one) will also never benefit from what we’re fighting for. Each and every one of us is already beyond the point in this fucking strike where the gains outweigh the potential winnings. And when I say potential winnings, it’s becoming clearer and clearer to me that we’re going to LOSE this thing. Like in a big, embarrassing way. And then we really will all be in the same boat, won’t we?
Also, my four year old son wants me to put the following in: “Nick Counter. 399, I don’t want you back. For ever again. I don’t like you, Nick Counter. I don’t like you because you’re a bad guy!” And then, dancing, he adds, “We don’t like you! We don’t like you!” Take it for what it’s worth.
Comment by brian — January 9, 2008 @ 6:20 am
Wow, at least they get a letter before getting punked. At Radford they kicked everyone out then mailed a ridiculous letter to say we “may” be laid off. Another classy day in Hollywood. Frisbee golf anyone?
Comment by ExRadford Employee — January 9, 2008 @ 8:15 am
whatever side you support, everyone should agree that crippling an entire industry is not a smart play. we are all in this together…
Comment by travy — January 9, 2008 @ 8:52 am
Confused–
I think they refer to this stage of the process as “Passing the savings along to you.”
Comment by Anonymous — January 9, 2008 @ 8:54 am
The WGA leadership should show up to a suitable meeting place EVERY morning at 9a with an open, public invite for the AMPTP to join them. We can steal a page from the Civil Rights Movement in the 60’s… our “sit-in” with draw the press.
And we will see how long the AMPTP can handle that.
Comment by NEGOTIATE PLEASE — January 9, 2008 @ 9:49 am
I agree with Jimmy (of the very first post) - the little guys, usually the people who do the actual WORK for the studios/divisions are always the first to get the axe. Paycuts and payroll cuts never hit the useless portion of the studio workforce, management. Studios are always top heavy in terms of management. I have been laid off and then rehired (because someone needed to know how to work) by the studios many times myself.
Even the highest paid writer doesn’t pull down what a useless exec does per year. Why do you have cash for them, but not working people?
Just meet with the WGA already, you are going to have to settle eventually .Just PAY THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE PRODUCT! You all are supposed to be the business people in this town - since you aren’t good at that ….what exactly is your job? What ARE studio execs good at? Aren’t you supposed to be DEALMAKERS? Well, make a DEAL already.
The whole town is pissed at you AMPTP. This strike didn’t have to happen. Look at the UK writers union - they just settled on an amount for their online royalties, no problem, no strike needed. Very businesslike. Easy peasy. The studios are the problem here. How greedy must you be to shoot the business in the foot like this?
MAKE A DEAL AMPTP
Comment by sidelined — January 9, 2008 @ 10:50 am
Douchezero - Many studio folks would love to have a union. But many jobs are rigged so that union membership is out of the question. These are companies that hire “perma temps” so they don’t have to pay benefits - they break existing labor laws all the time.I back the WGA in this as I see what the powers that be are trying to do to the people who do the work in Hollywood. This is all happening because the writers are faceless, unlike the actors, and because their contract came up first. They are just the first union to try to negotiate, so they are getting beaten up so that the rest of us will think twice before we speak up. That’s the way it’s always been with bullies, I mean studios. The writers are the low man on the above the line totem pole, I get that. Often they pull down less than crew, whether the crew wants to believe that or not. They are hurting as much as anyone.
I don’t blame the writers, they want to be paid for their work, the same as anyone. Unions exist for a reason in this town, as the studios are making clear.
Comment by sidelined — January 9, 2008 @ 11:03 am
Just a follow up to Network Executive’s comments. I’m having trouble finding any rationale why the members of the AMPTP are not even interested in negotiatiing. I mean there has to be at least one reason; what is it?
Unless these guys are so out of touch with reality and are the types who enjoy kicking puppies (which I suspect many of them do), what is really going on? Maybe the internet is bigger game than all of us realize right now - and they know it - and don’t want to set a precedent to give the talent an equitable share of the profits.
Before H-town and the whole industry goes down in flames like the end of The Day of Locust, the WGA definitely needs to align with the politcal rallies and the ‘change’ movement, stressing the need for the middle class to fight back. Maybe McCain or Obama can lead the choir on this.
Comment by Mark S. — January 9, 2008 @ 11:11 am
The lack of business knowledge that gets exposed in the comment sections of these blogs shows me why my guild went out on this suicidal strike. Trust me people if the stock priceds of these companies were dropping the execs would be at the table in a heartbeat and a deal would be done. The reality is that American Gladiators was huge and that will be dwarfed next monday when American Idol returns. No one is shoving these shows down viewers throats. Idol has been the biggest thing on television for five years. I just cant believe that you guys don’t see how hated the writers have become. I am on a studio lot every day and no one is hating the studios. They are all blaming the “greedy” writers. But keep drinking that Patric Verrone Kool-aid.
Comment by jimmy2 — January 9, 2008 @ 1:48 pm
WGA Strike = Layoffs At Warner Bros
Um, shouldn’t the headline be…
AMPTP failure to negotiate in good faith = Layoffs at Warner Bros
I know it’s less catchy, but it’s a lot more accurate!
Comment by George Glass — January 10, 2008 @ 2:57 pm
I agree that the layoffs are due to the AMPTP’s unwillingness to negotiate. It’s unfair that the media is portraying all these losses on the WGA.
Comment by Adam F. — January 12, 2008 @ 6:31 pm