Dear Members:As so many of us were hoping for last week, the Directors Guild of America negotiated a groundbreaking agreement with the AMPTP that sets the stage for getting IATSE members and the Industry back to work. After spending two million dollars, more than a year researching new media and a month of informal discussions with the studios, the DGA created a model for every Union and Guild to follow. The DGA:
John Wells, former Writers Guild of America President, who has been involved in his Union’s negotiations for 20 years said, “This is the best deal I’ve seen that anyone’s been able to negotiate.” He also praised the DGA for getting the studios to open up their books for unprecedented reviews by the Guild. I agree. I am glad to report that the WGA has agreed to meet informally this week with the studio heads of Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. The WGA strike is now three-months old. It has shut down more than 100 television shows, crippled feature production and put thousands of our IATSE brothers and sisters out of work, scrambling to make their next house payment and pay their utility bills. Now that the DGA has negotiated a template, the Writers Guild negotiators have no more excuses. Pilot season is hanging by a thread. The WGA should drop their proposals to raid the IATSE’s jurisdiction in animation and post-production and make a deal that gets our members working again. If you are having trouble making house or car payments, utility bills or are in need of a loan, please visit Local 600’s website at www.cameraguild.com., and click on “WGA Strike Info Center.” Fraternally, Steven Poster ASC |