Comments on: WGAE Prez "Hit The Wall" Before Xmas "Momentarily Overcome By Frustration" http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wgae-prez-hit-the-wall-before-xmas-momentarily-overcome-by-frustration-and-annoyance/ Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:51:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: justice 4 writers http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wgae-prez-hit-the-wall-before-xmas-momentarily-overcome-by-frustration-and-annoyance/#comment-23857 justice 4 writers Sat, 05 Jan 2008 06:17:13 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wgae-prez-hit-the-wall-before-xmas-momentarily-overcome-by-frustration-and-annoyance/#comment-23857 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? 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?

]]> By: soullesstvexec http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wgae-prez-hit-the-wall-before-xmas-momentarily-overcome-by-frustration-and-annoyance/#comment-22741 soullesstvexec Thu, 03 Jan 2008 22:59:26 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wgae-prez-hit-the-wall-before-xmas-momentarily-overcome-by-frustration-and-annoyance/#comment-22741 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.” 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.”

]]> By: Ruby Redlips http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wgae-prez-hit-the-wall-before-xmas-momentarily-overcome-by-frustration-and-annoyance/#comment-21453 Ruby Redlips Wed, 02 Jan 2008 22:40:32 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wgae-prez-hit-the-wall-before-xmas-momentarily-overcome-by-frustration-and-annoyance/#comment-21453 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? 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?

]]> By: I Won't Vote For You Again http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wgae-prez-hit-the-wall-before-xmas-momentarily-overcome-by-frustration-and-annoyance/#comment-21450 I Won't Vote For You Again Wed, 02 Jan 2008 22:31:17 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wgae-prez-hit-the-wall-before-xmas-momentarily-overcome-by-frustration-and-annoyance/#comment-21450 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. 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.

]]> By: Another Hyphenate http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wgae-prez-hit-the-wall-before-xmas-momentarily-overcome-by-frustration-and-annoyance/#comment-21404 Another Hyphenate Wed, 02 Jan 2008 20:40:39 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wgae-prez-hit-the-wall-before-xmas-momentarily-overcome-by-frustration-and-annoyance/#comment-21404 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. 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.

]]> By: applesandoranges http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wgae-prez-hit-the-wall-before-xmas-momentarily-overcome-by-frustration-and-annoyance/#comment-21344 applesandoranges Wed, 02 Jan 2008 18:32:35 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wgae-prez-hit-the-wall-before-xmas-momentarily-overcome-by-frustration-and-annoyance/#comment-21344 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. 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.

]]> By: anonymous http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wgae-prez-hit-the-wall-before-xmas-momentarily-overcome-by-frustration-and-annoyance/#comment-21321 anonymous Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:15:23 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wgae-prez-hit-the-wall-before-xmas-momentarily-overcome-by-frustration-and-annoyance/#comment-21321 pundit: humans and are respectful? proof your work, baby. pundit: humans and are respectful? proof your work, baby.

]]> By: 101 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wgae-prez-hit-the-wall-before-xmas-momentarily-overcome-by-frustration-and-annoyance/#comment-21315 101 Wed, 02 Jan 2008 16:59:34 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wgae-prez-hit-the-wall-before-xmas-momentarily-overcome-by-frustration-and-annoyance/#comment-21315 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. 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.

]]> By: Barry http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wgae-prez-hit-the-wall-before-xmas-momentarily-overcome-by-frustration-and-annoyance/#comment-21304 Barry Wed, 02 Jan 2008 16:08:36 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wgae-prez-hit-the-wall-before-xmas-momentarily-overcome-by-frustration-and-annoyance/#comment-21304 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. 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.

]]> By: Drake http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wgae-prez-hit-the-wall-before-xmas-momentarily-overcome-by-frustration-and-annoyance/#comment-21293 Drake Wed, 02 Jan 2008 14:16:10 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wgae-prez-hit-the-wall-before-xmas-momentarily-overcome-by-frustration-and-annoyance/#comment-21293 I'm beginning to hit a wall with all this sniveling and forgiveness towards the late night hosts. They are SCABS. I’m beginning to hit a wall with all this sniveling and forgiveness towards the late night hosts. They are SCABS.

]]> By: Barry http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wgae-prez-hit-the-wall-before-xmas-momentarily-overcome-by-frustration-and-annoyance/#comment-21284 Barry Wed, 02 Jan 2008 13:44:41 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wgae-prez-hit-the-wall-before-xmas-momentarily-overcome-by-frustration-and-annoyance/#comment-21284 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. 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.

]]> By: Tired of Shills http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wgae-prez-hit-the-wall-before-xmas-momentarily-overcome-by-frustration-and-annoyance/#comment-21275 Tired of Shills Wed, 02 Jan 2008 12:33:04 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wgae-prez-hit-the-wall-before-xmas-momentarily-overcome-by-frustration-and-annoyance/#comment-21275 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: <i>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’).</i> 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 <i>or marked by</i> proper respect. I'm calling 'shill' on 'pundit @ 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’.

]]> By: pundit http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wgae-prez-hit-the-wall-before-xmas-momentarily-overcome-by-frustration-and-annoyance/#comment-21257 pundit Wed, 02 Jan 2008 10:19:03 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wgae-prez-hit-the-wall-before-xmas-momentarily-overcome-by-frustration-and-annoyance/#comment-21257 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). 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).

]]> By: SweetJesus http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wgae-prez-hit-the-wall-before-xmas-momentarily-overcome-by-frustration-and-annoyance/#comment-21251 SweetJesus Wed, 02 Jan 2008 09:29:23 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wgae-prez-hit-the-wall-before-xmas-momentarily-overcome-by-frustration-and-annoyance/#comment-21251 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. 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.

]]> By: Guest http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wgae-prez-hit-the-wall-before-xmas-momentarily-overcome-by-frustration-and-annoyance/#comment-21232 Guest Wed, 02 Jan 2008 06:46:03 +0000 http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wgae-prez-hit-the-wall-before-xmas-momentarily-overcome-by-frustration-and-annoyance/#comment-21232 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. 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.

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