Michael Winship, president of Writers Guild of America East, sent the following New Year's message to his membership. It had an unusually personal quality to it:
Fellow Members of the Writers Guild of America, East:
A very Happy New Year to you all. In spite of our current turmoil, I hope you’ve been able to find some time to enjoy and appreciate the holiday season with friends and loved ones.
I hit the wall the Friday before Christmas, momentarily overcome by frustration and annoyance. I think many, if not most of us, have done the same at various points during this strike.
What sustains me, and I hope you as well, is our nationwide unity and the surety that what we are striking for is right not only for us but so many others in the creative community – and that the fair and respectful contract we seek will serve as the template for many generations to come.
With the start of 2008 and the continuation of our strike come many new challenges and dilemmas. As you know, last week we reached a binding independent agreement with Worldwide Pants that will allow Late Show with David Letterman and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson to return to the air on January 2 with their full writing staffs. Worldwide Pants accepted the very same proposals, including new media, that the Guilds were prepared to present to the media conglomerates when they walked out of negotiations on December 7. As we said Friday, it demonstrates our eagerness to put people back to work, and that when a company comes to the table prepared to negotiate seriously, a fair and reasonable deal can be quickly reached.
Other late night shows – The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Jimmy Kimmel Live in Los Angeles, and Late Night with Conan O’Brien here in New York – also are returning Wednesday night, but without their striking writers. Leno, O’Brien and Kimmel are all members of the Guild and have been and continue to be extremely supportive of our strike and their writing staffs. For that we truly are grateful
Nonetheless, they are coming back without writers and without a new Guild contract, forced back on the air by companies that refuse to sit at the table and bargain with us. We cannot let that pass.
It’s a difficult and painful decision, but the Guilds East and West have determined that we will picket outside the studios of these programs, beginning January 2. We know that some believe this to be unfair and will be unhappy, but we are taking into consideration our overall strategy and the needs of all 10,500 of our members currently on strike.
Our picket will not be of the hosts themselves but the companies for which their shows are produced. Our purpose is to continue awareness of our strike and the media conglomerates against which we strike, and to encourage performers, politicians and others to honor our picket line and not appear as guests on these struck programs.
Nothing at all personal or defamatory is intended and we will take all measures to make sure the public and press are aware of our motives and issues.If the companies want these shows to be back on the air with the writers whose creativity and talent make them so successful, the answer is simple. Bargain in good faith, negotiate, make a deal.
Thanks for your attention.
In Solidarity,
Michael Winship
President
Writers Guild of America, East
The Worldwide Pants deal is most-favored-nations, meaning that whatever the eventual deal the Guild makes with AMPTP, those same terms will cover Worldwide Pants. So the claim that WWP is giving the Guild everything the Guild asked for is a tad disingenuous
Comment by Brian — January 1, 2008 @ 4:40 pm
Where’s Norma Rae when we need her? That was the weakest, sappiest letter I’ve ever read. This is a strike!! Let’s get tough, let’s get real. I don’t feel bad about picketing Conan, Kimmel etc… Why do writers and the WGA continually feel like we have to be “nice” all the time. How on earth are we going to win this thing with weak leadership like this.
It’s 2008. Let’s take it to ‘em!!
Comment by dante writer — January 1, 2008 @ 4:49 pm
Our picket will not be of the hosts themselves but the companies for which their shows are produced. Our purpose is to continue awareness of our strike and the media conglomerates against which we strike, and to encourage performers, politicians and others to honor our picket line and not appear as guests on these struck programs. Nothing at all personal or defamatory is intended and we will take all measures to make sure the public and press are aware of our motives and issues.
My good God — why all the bowing and scraping to the picketed hosts? “Please, Mr. Leno, Mr. O’Brien… please don’t be mad at us for standing up for our rights.”
If it’s an admonition to the WGA picketers to keep it respectful and businesslike on the line, that’s fine. But it comes across as — dare I say it? — obsequious.
Comment by Stuart Creque — January 1, 2008 @ 5:35 pm
Maybe it had “an unusual personal quality” to it because so many of the late night writers on the west and east coast are furious — and have let their dissatisfaction and anger be known, in spades, to Winship during the past 48 hours. This Letterman waiver (and let’s call it that, because the guild has yet to explain — in any detail — why it’s not just a waiver) has been incredibly damaging to the camaraderie of the late night writers, who have been integral to the success of this strike. As you can tell from Winship’s letter, they WGA is afraid the story will be the dissent in the ranks, which is strong, real and — ultimately — damaging, instead of the story they’re trying to spin: “Letterman brings producers to knees.”
Please.
Comment by eastcoastwriter — January 1, 2008 @ 5:40 pm
How come there’s no mention of “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report” in this letter? Aren’t they coming back, too? Are THEY going to be targeted?
Comment by wgaer in NY — January 1, 2008 @ 5:42 pm
If the public wants to show their support… then don’t be used as part of the audience… Stay outside. Don’t go in!
Comment by pb — January 1, 2008 @ 5:44 pm
How weak is that? Phew.
Comment by LA Undercover — January 1, 2008 @ 7:50 pm
“A difficult and painful decision” and “Some will be unhappy”??? To picket the shows of scab hosts who are returning?!! I pray that the WGA-West leadership is not as out of touch with its membership as this guy. Leno, O’Brien, etc are damanging our chances for a decent contract, pal.
Jeez, is this guy clueless. Read Nikkie’s comment blogs, read the other blogs, talk to someone, anyone, on the picket line. Nobody I know is unhappy we’re picketing hosts who are crossing our picket line. Could this WGAE prez come off as any more of a passive wimp? I’m all for haggling when the time is right and reaching compromise and extending an olive branch if and when the situation warrants it. But how can he misread the situation to this degree? And when the AMPTP reads how concerned this doofus sounds about offending the scabs that just strengthens their resolve, I mean, heightens their arrogance.
Comment by Jeff Newton — January 1, 2008 @ 9:28 pm
now we’re in real trouble…one of our leaders who has been prepping this strike for two years can’t take the pressure after nine weeks…what state is he going to be in come April May and June when the Gimmick-A-Day strategy is still failing?…
Comment by skeptic — January 1, 2008 @ 9:29 pm
I fully support picketing “the companies for which their shows are produced”. But an earlier statement from Mr. Winslip also said that “picket lines at venues such as NBC (both Burbank and Rockefeller Center), The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and the Golden Globes are essential”
I’ll be an audience member at the Daily Show on the 7th and the Colbert Report on the 8th, and I’m very curious to see who the picketers at those shows are intending to target. The shows are not produced at Comedy Central HQ, but at small studios on the far west side of Manhattan, essentially the middle of nowhere, where execs are unlikely to venture. Who will they be chanting at, other than the audience members and production staff? And what is this supposed to accomplish for public support? Is this another Dancing With the Stars scenario, where the fans (who largely support the WGA) wind up on a guilt trip because they planned months ago to see their favorite shows?
For the WGA’s sake, I hope some thought is being put into this. I have a feeling the mass public support is being taken for granted.
Comment by Guest — January 1, 2008 @ 9:46 pm
Sweet Jesus, this is unbelievable. We need to keep Winship as far away from the picket lines as possible, next thing we know he’ll be begging reluctant guests to cross. Don’t think of it as a struck show, think of what gosh-darn good guys these are, how performing a struck show for a struck company is a great show of support, and how they had no choice–forced! No, Mr. Winship, Letterman isn’t the one show we’re supposed to be picketing, just the opposite actually.
Norma Rae was the heroine, not the villain, Mike.
Comment by SweetJesus — January 2, 2008 @ 12:29 am
I am now convinced that history will blame much of the strike debacle on the WGA East (and perhaps this guy directly). With time, I believe it will be revealed that the WGAE tragically jumped the gun (by calling a strike while the West coast heads were in late night negotiation) to the chagrin of the West Coast leadership (whom, I’m certain, are keeping mum about this in a sense of camaraderie).
The East Coast WGA has always been a bit of a loose cannon. This letter proves it.
It also raises the question as to how a guy like this (whose diction raises questions as to his ability to call himself a writer: ‘Surety’? (I think he means ’security’) A ‘respectful contract’? (Humans and are respectful. Things they make, such as contracts, are ‘respectable’).
But, more seriously, the tone and contrariness of his letter suggests, to me, at least, that the WGA West leadership should censure this guy before more damage is done to the larger WGA membership (of which I am a member).
Comment by pundit — January 2, 2008 @ 1:19 am
To: ‘pundit @ 1:19 am’.
I can certainly see that the tone of this letter could be seen as being a little weak, but you need to get your facts right if you’re going to pick up on someone’s use of English in this way:
It also raises the question as to how a guy like this (whose diction raises questions as to his ability to call himself a writer: ‘Surety’? (I think he means ’security’) A ‘respectful contract’? (Humans and are respectful. Things they make, such as contracts, are ‘respectable’).
Actually both those uses are fine. In using “surety”, he doesn’t mean “security”, he means “certainty”, but “surety” works too (FYI, free dictionaries are available on line):
sur·e·ty (shr-t) n. pl. sur·e·ties
1. The condition of being sure, especially of oneself; self-assurance.
Also, “respectful” is perfectly correct there.
re·spect·ful (r-spktfl)adj.
Showing or marked by proper respect.
I’m calling ’shill’ on ‘pundit @ 1:19 am’.
Comment by Tired of Shills — January 2, 2008 @ 3:33 am
Winship has the strong support of the WGAE membership. If you don’t think us east coasters are tough enough please come join us picketing through snow storms as we have done.
Comment by Barry — January 2, 2008 @ 4:44 am
I’m beginning to hit a wall with all this sniveling and forgiveness towards the late night hosts. They are SCABS.
Comment by Drake — January 2, 2008 @ 5:16 am
Winship is strongly supported by the WGAE membership.
If you don’t think us east coasters are tough enough please feel free to join our picket lines through snow and freezing temps as we have done.
Comment by Barry — January 2, 2008 @ 7:08 am
Write it — then put it away for a day then re-read it, then re-write it. Then read it out loud to yourself. Then have someone read it for you. Proof it, then send it.
Comment by 101 — January 2, 2008 @ 7:59 am
pundit: humans and are respectful? proof your work, baby.
Comment by anonymous — January 2, 2008 @ 8:15 am
pundit, that doesn’t make much sense. If WGAE is run by militant hardliners who went ahead with an unauthorized strike while negotiations were ongoing, how’d we end up with this hapless wuss who’s heartsick that he’s supposed to be conducting a strike when all he wants to do is shower Stewart and Colbert and the west coast hosts with tender kisses and walks on the beach? I agree with you on the censure, though.
eastcoastwriter, there are what, maybe 100 late night writers total between the coasts who don’t work for Letterman? If, as you say, they’re upset (and not with their weasily, unprincipled bosses) well, it still seems like Winship should probably be more inclined to listen to those of us in the somewhat-larger-than-100-total-members bloc who are “furious, angry, and disatisfied” that our leadership is behaving in such a counterproductive, mealy-mouthed, inconsistent, inexplicable manner.
Perhaps we need to explain the situation to them with visual aids, pasting Carson Daly’s (boo hiss) face over photos of the other hosts’ bodies as a teaching tool before our camaraderie is really damaged by more of this dispiriting foolishness. You want to see dissent, keep telling us that picketing struck shows is unseemly and the hosts/executive producers are our biggest supporters who are being forced against their wills.
Comment by applesandoranges — January 2, 2008 @ 9:32 am
These comments seem overly harsh. Of course everyone hits a wall sometimes. Winship is just being honest. The WWP deal is controversial. He and the WGAw leadership are betting it is a way to help crack the wall of opposition. This will work or not — and everyone is worried, even those who think it was a good call. What Winship is saying about picketing the companies and not the hosts is correct. It isn’t personal. BTW — Jon Stewart is the golden goose for Comedy Central. The Letterman deal gives him something to use to make Comedy Central sign an interim contract. And don’t think he won’t be on them day and night. Colbert, too. Picketers are telling Comedy Central to make a deal. The hosts, we can only hope, are working from the inside to whatever degree their power allows.
Comment by Another Hyphenate — January 2, 2008 @ 11:40 am
Mike,
With this embarrassing, pandering, weak kneed letter you’ve undone all the good will I thought we’d established. There are writers whose careers are made with talent, hard work and determination in the face of great odds. Then there are those who make their way into the guild and achieve success through connections and by sucking up to the powers that be. You apparently fall into the latter category. If you can’t take the heat - resign.
Comment by I Won't Vote For You Again — January 2, 2008 @ 1:31 pm
If there are WGA members going back to work, then they fucking well SHOULD be picketed personally. Is this a strike or is it a tea party?
Comment by Ruby Redlips — January 2, 2008 @ 1:40 pm
more wga confusion…
Newspaper Guild’s NLRB Charge Takes On Striking Writers Guild By Joe Strupp
Published: January 03, 2008
NEW YORK While The Writers Guild of America continues its nationwide strike, a small group of its staff represented by the Newspaper Guild is claiming unfair labor practices and has filed a series of charges with the National Labor Relations Board.
The Newspaper Guild of New York, which represents 19 staff employees of the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE), filed several unfair labor charges with the NLRB on Thursday, according to a release. This is the same guild local that represents newsroom employees at several outlets, including The New York Times, The New York Daily News, and Reuters.
The charges claim the WGAE “has reneged on a ratified contract with its own staff, threatened a staff union leader and delayed holiday bonuses because its employees’ union asserted its rights.”
“At the heart of the dispute is the WGAE management’s refusal to sign a contract that was ratified in October by its staff, who represent, organize and provide service and support to WGAE members, including those who are now out on strike,” the Newspaper Guild release stated. “WGAE leaders do not deny that a contract has been ratified and is in place, but now contend that they did not mean to propose all of the wage increases that were contained in the contract offer that was accepted by the staff.”
Added Newspaper Guild President Bill O’Meara: “It’s unbelievable that a union doesn’t understand that it can’t pick and choose the language it wants to live up to in a contract. The contract language clearly supports our position regarding money owed our members that management is now refusing to pay.”
O’Meara said the dispute arose after the Writers Guild rewrote the previously ratified contract and insisted that the Newspaper Guild sign the revised version. “It’s like a car salesman demanding that you sign a contract after he’s changed all the numbers that you had agreed upon,” he said.
But WGAE Spokeswoman Sherry Goldman told E&P the complaint was “making a mountain out of a molehill.” She said the dispute centers primarily on the Newspaper Guild incorrectly interpreting the unsigned contract to provide a 6% raise for 2007 when it was a 3% raise.
She also said that bonuses were paid, although three days late.
Goldman said that the WGAE had filed its own charge with the NLRB in early December over the same contract dispute. “I’m not surprised,” Goldman said about the Newspaper Guild filing. “The National Labor Relations Board is designed to make these decisions.”
The Newspaper Guild stressed in its release, however, that it “supports the striking writers in their dispute with television and movie producers, which is entering its ninth week.”
“Out of respect for our striking fellow union members we tried to work this out quietly, and we even offered to submit the dispute to arbitration,” O’Meara said. “But the WGAE leadership’s anti-labor stance against its own workers and its filing of a baseless charge against us two weeks ago, while we were still trying to resolve the issues, forced us to reluctantly take this public step to defend our members and their contract.”
Comment by soullesstvexec — January 3, 2008 @ 1:59 pm
anyone notice that winship talks about the needs of 10,500 members currently on strike. what happened to 12,000 - the number everywhere else? did we drop 1,500 members or are they all back working at letterman now? if he’s prez shouldn’t he know? if he’s right, shouldn’t the rest of us know?
Comment by justice 4 writers — January 4, 2008 @ 9:17 pm