WGA East Council Candidates Eye Contract Talks, Doable Strike – Deadline

Subsequent yr’s negotiations for a brand new WGA movie and TV contract – and a potential writers’ strike – have been entrance and middle in marketing campaign statements posted by a number of candidates within the WGA East’s ongoing Council elections. The WGA’s present contract, referred to as the Minimal Primary Settlement (MBA), expires on Might 1, 2023.

That is the guild’s first election since its members voted overwhelmingly in June to restructure the guild to make sure a extra “balanced illustration” amongst its three newly-designated work sectors: movie/tv/streaming, broadcast/cable/streaming information and on-line media.

In certainly one of solely two contested races, seven candidates – together with six incumbents – are vying for six seats on the Council representing the movie/TV/streaming work sector. Listed here are excerpts from their marketing campaign statements:

“As we method the 2023 MBA negotiations, we face the intense menace of a possible strike,” wrote incumbent Monica Lee Bellais, noting that if reelected she is going to “proceed to serve one of the best pursuits of WGAE members as our union strikes ahead to tackle the subsequent set of challenges, together with coping with the rising affect of the worldwide manufacturing market.”

Lots of the movie/TV/streaming sector candidates agreed that eliminating the longstanding apply of free rewrites throughout the growth of movies and TV reveals will likely be a significant problem at subsequent yr’s contract negotiations. Different points that must be addressed, they stated, embody increased minimal pay charges, larger streaming residuals, safer pension and well being advantages, higher fairness & inclusion, and the curbing of mini-rooms, the place teams of underpaid writers are gathered upfront of the manufacturing of a tv sequence to interrupt tales and write scripts.

Candidates for the WGA West’s board of administrators made comparable factors of their campaign statements.

“The MBA negotiations are on the horizon,” wrote A.M. Holmes, who’s searching for a fourth time period on the WGAE Council. “We have to be absolutely united and able to combat – and it is going to be a combat. It’s important that we demand to be paid appropriately for our work and never see our revenue diminished by restricted weekly quite than episodic charges, mini-rooms, free revisions, upfront funds with no residuals and extra. Additional, it’s crucial that we keep member entry to well being care by the Well being Fund and protect freedom of alternative. In mild of the overturn of Roe v. Wade, we should stay vigilant and work in live performance with others in our {industry} to supply office protections, financial and emotional help as we navigate these adjustments.”

Gina Gionfriddo, who can be searching for reelection, stated that the upcoming contract talks “should handle the transformation of our {industry} to a streaming mannequin. Can we protect theatrical minimums for function writers? How will we be sure that TV writers revenue pretty from their work when streamers search to eradicate backend income and residuals as an revenue stream for us? These revenue streams are particularly vital as quick seasons develop into the norm in TV. Combating in opposition to the erosion of writers’ incomes additionally means, I imagine, addressing the current disaster in free work. The {industry} commonplace for what constitutes a ‘pitch’ has ballooned in recent times. Pitch decks and look books and codecs are sometimes seen as regular steps in an unpaid growth course of. Writers are submitting to ‘bake-offs’ by which they spend months growing IP (mental property) they don’t personal in competitors with different writers. We’ve to have a look at methods to deal with this epidemic of free growth.

Whereas noting that she doesn’t set the agenda for the MBA negotiations, Gionfriddo stated that “What I can do is mobilize members in order that they know what’s at stake and what steps they should take to make their voices heard by our negotiators. I significantly suppose that we’ve some work to do educating members on the race-to-the-bottom agenda among the many streamers, the way in which by which media consolidation endangers our incomes. I believe that we might want to take a squeaky wheel method to advance some problems with explicit concern to East members — the shortage of minimums in comedy-variety and the necessity to achieve a foothold in non-fiction and animation are objectives that matter to me.”

Kaitlin Fontana, searching for a 3rd time period on the Council, wrote: “We face a critical contract combat with the MBA in 2023. We’re doing extra work than ever earlier than, for much less cash – many occasions free of charge! Our {industry}’s energy brokers are more and more concentrated in a handful of mega-corporations. These fights aren’t concentrated solely in movie/TV and streaming. Our colleagues and comrades in broadcast information and on-line media are combating the identical fights, typically for a similar bosses. Our greatest shot at defending ourselves and one another – no matter sector – is to acknowledge the methods by which we’re the identical in addition to how our wants differ, and to work in solidarity to make our workplaces safer, extra equitable, and extra steady.”

Tian Jun Gu, one other incumbent, wrote: “I stated final yr if elected, I’ll combat for actual positive aspects for working writers. Issues like script charges for workers writers, elevating streaming residuals, guaranteeing a couple of step for function writers. and WGA streaming minimums for comedy/selection. This hasn’t modified. Throughout my tenure, I labored with my fellow Council members to sort out one of many key problems with my platform: free work. That collaboration has resulted within the Free Work City Corridor. An ongoing sequence of conferences to sort out the insidious nature of free work in our {industry}.”

Simply final yr, guild leaders have been so involved concerning the guild’s shifting demographics – fueled by a wildly profitable marketing campaign to prepare digital information retailers – that they talked overtly about spinning off their digital information members right into a separate union. That internecine feud was settled in June, nonetheless, when WGA East members voted overwhelmingly (98% to 2%) to approve adjustments to the guild’s structure which can be designed to make sure a extra balanced illustration of members by bridging the divide between those that work in movie, tv and information broadcasting and people employed in digital newsrooms. All of the candidates on this yr’s elections say that the membership is now united to confront the challenges forward, irrespective of by which sector they work.

Recalling that heated battle, Tian Jun Gu wrote that “For a lot of of you, points like Guild governance aren’t on the forefront of your thoughts. There are increased priorities like free work creep, increased minimums and residuals, and continued healthcare protection. When the final election framed the continued existence of our Guild as a query, I’m positive lots of you have been shocked. I do know I used to be. After I began my first time period, the divisions have been so deep and poisonous that I by no means thought we’d get to the problems that matter most to you. That matter to me. However right here we’re. Earlier this yr, we as a Council efficiently amended our Guild’s Structure to extra pretty serve our rising and various work sectors and introduced that to a membership vote. The amendments handed with an astounding 98%. I may say the progress shocks me however in hindsight, it doesn’t. For as a lot chaos and outward animosity was displayed throughout final yr’s election, it was accomplished as a result of each member on this council has your greatest pursuits at coronary heart.”

Erica Saleh, working for a second time period, wrote: “I do know that our Guild can typically really feel episodic-TV-centric, particularly in relation to the MBA. We have to combat for the problems distinctive to Comedy Selection (lack of minimums on SVOD and reductions on long-term work – actually WTF) and Function writers (countless pitch processes, free work, one-step offers – additionally WTF) and never allow them to be dismissed as fringe points. It must be a precedence to teach all of our members concerning the points going through all of our members, in order that we will be unified—and stronger—in all of our fights collectively.”

She additionally famous that “As a Center Japanese-American lady, I’m extraordinarily obsessed with problems with fairness and entry. I’ll combat for extra alternatives at each stage for under-represented writers. We have to see BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and girls writers being employed extra, promoted extra, and in additional positions of management. We should maintain studios accountable by monitoring who they’re assembly with, hiring, retaining, and selling. However there’s additionally quite a bit we are able to do from inside. Similar to studios, our showrunners (myself included) must be held accountable for who they’re assembly with, hiring, retaining, and selling.”

Gene Koprowski, the one non-incumbent working to signify writers within the movie/TV/streaming sector, wrote that he “is troubled by Hollywood streamers’ remedy of screenwriters, particularly in relation to conventional back-end deal funds for profitable applications,” and that he “plans to make a significant problem of the matter within the coming years if elected.”

In the one different contested election, three candidates – Phil Pilato, Kathy McGee and Matt Nelko – are vying to develop into the guild’s vp representing members working within the broadcast/cable/streaming information sector – an workplace that didn’t exist till now.

Pilato stated in his marketing campaign assertion that “Information members work lengthy, onerous hours to get tales proper. We’re professionals and deserve respectable pay and advantages. With an administration that’s a pal of labor, one would hope adjustments would come to assist each member of the Writers Guild East – adjustments in labor legislation enforcement, web neutrality and well being care. However in Washington, there are nonetheless those that cling to the failed insurance policies of the final administration and combat to carry on to their energy and stop any change. These are issues we as a Guild should combat so we don’t lose what we’ve already achieved and that’s what I’ll do as your Vice President.”

Pilato added that “Certainly one of my prime priorities and a prime precedence of my fellow Council members has additionally been to prepare non-union outlets. I’m proud to say over the last dozen years, our union has grown because of this effort. Nevertheless, as , that’s additionally put a pressure on the Guild’s sources and now the union has determined that to be able to higher serve the members – what’s wanted is a Vice-President for every sector. That’s why I’m working for Vice-President of Broadcast, Cable and Streaming Information on the WGAE. I even have labored very effectively with the opposite sectors and have been endorsed by each information and leisure writers. I’ll combat with all the things I do know to get working information writers truthful pay, good advantages and assist from the Union that cares for them.”

McGee wrote that “As a candidate with expertise and management, l worth the significance of a powerful and united WGA…It takes dedication and braveness to combat for the long run. Regardless of the extraordinary challenges the WGA East has confronted the previous few years, power and solidarity information us as we transfer ahead.”

She additionally famous that “As a member of the WGA/CBS bargaining committee, I helped negotiate a number of CBS Information contracts, together with the bargaining periods that resulted in CBS staff being added to the WGA pension plan. As well as, I’ve lobbied for contracts in streaming information at CBS Information Streaming and supported organizing efforts MSNBC…As journalism evolves and we enhance our ranks, we should proceed to signify broadcast journalists. I’ll combat for advantages, safety in opposition to hostile work environments and job safety by enhancing expertise.”

Nelko stated, “Lately, a recurring theme has been cropping up from the corporate aspect of the bargaining tables: how we’re now not within the enterprise of ‘broadcasting,’ and actually not even doing ‘tv’ or ‘radio’ anymore. Throughout our final ABC negotiation, we have been reminded again and again that we’re, in essence, technological dinosaurs. Permit me to place this fantasy to relaxation proper right here and proper now.

“It has been the expertise, innovation, and dedication to industrial excellence of our members,” he wrote, “that has helped propel legacy media alongside its personal supernova, neck and neck with the New Media, the place we’ve already made spectacular inroads on the planet of podcasting and streaming. However we are able to’t cease there. It’s crucial that the WGA not solely be within the vanguard of this increasing new media universe, however that we be absolutely built-in as companions – programmers – builders – and at our most important – writers. It has been my pleasure to signify you each in WGA Council and on the bargaining tables of ABC and CBS, and it might be a privilege to serve you as your new vp of broadcast/cable/streaming information.”

Three different candidates – Justin DiLauro, Elizabeth Godvik and Gail Lee – are working uncontested for 3 Council seats representing the guild’s broadcast/cable/streaming information sector.

DiLauro wrote that after he takes workplace, he’ll push for stronger pension advantages. “By no means once more ought to we as a Guild must beg for a pension enhance earlier than wage and basic-respect negotiations even start. A financially robust pension means a stronger union on the bargaining desk. Justin will signify all writers defending and advancing our rights as working artists.”

Godvik stated she desires the guild to be “ahead considering and to have a look at the place the {industry} goes to greatest to equip our present and future members for these jobs and the challenges that include them. I’m so happy with how our union labored collectively to forge a path ahead to verify members in all work areas are effectively represented.”

Noting that she helped unionize streaming producers at CBS Information in Chicago, she wrote that “I imagine it can assist us sooner or later when digital and broadcast strains develop into much more blurred and contracts get mixed. It can make our union stronger in relation to future enterprise selections and the way we method media corporations. We’re stronger collectively.”

Lee, in her candidate assertion, stated that “There’s a cliché that claims, ‘All politics is native.’ On the subject of union considerations, I couldn’t agree extra. The WGAE is just as robust as its membership. And member power begins on the native stage, in newsroom outlets and in firm bargaining items. That’s why I take nice pleasure in having been a store steward for a few years, and serving on a number of CBS bargaining committees. I had a hand in issues that immediately impacted my fellow broadcast members.

“Nonetheless, even while you get a contract, there may be at all times a lot extra to be accomplished. Present pay raises by no means match the speed of inflation. Newsrooms should do extra in relation to Covid security. Working from house is vital to many members. If it might be accomplished throughout the pandemic, it will possibly work as a enterprise mannequin. We’ve to combat to maintain employees jobs, at the same time as corporations desire workforces of freelancers. Employers should do higher on range points. I’m grateful to belong to a union that has my again on all these issues. I’m additionally grateful that the WGAE sees its mission in broader phrases than simply bread and butter points. The guild’s efforts to advertise social justice and equality remind us why the labor motion modified the course of U.S. historical past.”

Sara David, in the meantime, is working unopposed as vp of the guild’s on-line media sector. At the moment a member of the Council, she wrote that “We’re at a singular level in our union’s journey: Our sectors want unity and collaboration to assist on-the-ground members win stronger phrases and navigate new terrain like {industry} consolidation, non-public fairness, and digital escalation/strikes. We want leaders who’re related to members, who will advocate for them and be held accountable, and who can present sources that empower employees, bargaining items, and our whole union. It might be my honor to proceed this work and signify On-line Media members as we develop the WGAE into what everyone knows it may be: an industry-changing power for actual, constructive influence in employees’ on a regular basis lives.”

Two different candidates – Susan Rinkunas and Jessica Schulberg – are working unopposed for 2 seats on the Council representing the net media sector.

Rinkunas, in her assertion, stated: “I do know firsthand what non-public fairness corporations are doing to digital media by consolidation and ruthless price range cuts. Extra strikes will occur – different WGAE outlets have come shut in recent times. Employees’ greatest likelihood on this atmosphere is having a powerful union presence and utilizing our collective energy each day, not simply throughout contract negotiations.

“It might be my honor to signify members of the net media sector on Council, and I sit up for supporting members of the opposite sectors as they combat for higher requirements, together with the upcoming MBA negotiations. I wholeheartedly help new organizing in podcasting, animation, and unscripted. As media corporations proceed to merge – and play to the whims of platforms like Fb – employees’ duties will overlap increasingly. Our collaboration and solidarity are important. Collectively, we are able to push again in opposition to the most important points our {industry} faces, together with underpaying folks for ‘new media,’ exploitative calls for free of charge work, and unceasing layoffs. We’re all on this collectively.”

Schulberg stated in her assertion that “As rich media executives and personal fairness corporations are consistently consolidating and shrinking our newsrooms in an effort to extract income out of our work, it’s extra vital than ever that we work collectively to guard what we’ve received and proceed combating for higher situations.”

Voting on-line and by mail will start September 1, 2022. The guild’s annual assembly and Council election will likely be held September 15. See the entire candidates’ full assertion’s here.