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Benefits and Events

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23

THE DAILY SHOW WRITERS V. THE COLBERT SHOW WRITERS
will have a mock debate showdown on why America should care about the Writers' Strike. Moderated by DEE DEE MYERS (former Clinton press sec and West Wing consultant.)

THIS IS A NATIONAL EVENT HOSTED BY MEMBERS OF CONGRESSS
who are eager to hear our side of the issues.

FOLLOWING THE DEBATE MICHAEL WINSHIP WGA east

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  • Daily Show and Colbert Writers - Mock Debate in DC

    Zach Pentel from CampusProgress.org sent us these videos. Check out their coverage of the event here.

    Here's video of the mock debate in its entirety:

    Some of the congress members' responses:

    WGA Member Allison Abner, who helped organize the event wrote the following report:

    The WGA had a great day in Washington yesterday. The event was hosted by Reps Nadler D-NY, Weiner D-NY, Schakowsky

  • Colbert and Stewart Writers Take It To D.C.

    The LA Times carried the story this morning of the "debate" staged by striking WGA writers, held for the benefit of politicians in the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. The writers came to educate and inform D.C., in the way that only these guys can.

    A small excerpt:

    On one side, in shirts, was the striking Writers Guild of America, played by "Daily Show" writers Rob Kutner, Tim

  • Michael Winship, President of WGAE, Talks About Frustration and Hope as the Strike Moves into 2008

    Michael Winship, president of Writers Guild of America East, sent this message to East members today.

    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

  • Letter from The Presidents to Membership

    This was sent today to WGA members from Presidents Verrone and Winship:

    To Our Fellow Members:

    On Tuesday, members of the Writers Guilds East and West voted by a 92.5% margin to lift the restraining order that was invoked on November 5th. The strike is over.

    Writing can resume immediately. If you were employed when the strike began, you should plan to report to work on Wednesday. If you're not

  • WGA Members Vote to End Strike

    This was sent out today by the WGA:

    LOS ANGELES and NEW YORK – The membership of the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) today voted overwhelmingly in favor of lifting the restraining order and ending their 100-day strike that began on Nov. 5. 3,775 writers turned out in Los Angeles and New York to cast ballots or fax in proxies, with 92.5% voting

  • We're Almost Finished....Just One More Step

    I hope everyone has started back on the path to "normalcy". I, for one, was happy to see writers embraced on The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. And both shows were the better for being written by their writing staffs.

    When the strike started we heard a lot of talk about writers writing specs during the strike. But I actually don't know anyone who wrote a script during the past 3 months. Some

  • WRITERS GUILD REACHES AGREEMENT WITH WORLDWIDE PANTS

    LOS ANGELES – The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) have issued the following statement regarding Contract 2007 negotiations:

    “The Writers Guild has reached a binding independent agreement today with Worldwide Pants that will allow Late Night with David Letterman and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson to return to the air with their full

  • IO West Theater Comedy Fund Raiser

    HOOT, HOLLER AND LAUGH WITH STRIKING WGA MEMBERS AT iO WEST THEATER

    While the more than eight-week old WGA strike is anything but funny, the staff at iO WEST is standing up and speaking out to provide some relief for the writers in the form of comedy and donations.

    In a show of solidarity, every Monday during the month of January, iO WEST’s hit show, “The Armando Show,” will be donating half

  • MoveOn.Org Petition - Bring Back "The Daily Show"

    The political website moveon.org has started a petition to bring back "The Daily Show":

    Why are The Daily Show, Colbert Report, and other TV shows in re-runs? TV studios are refusing to pay writers fairly--causing them to strike.

    The studios will make over $120 million in ad revenue this year showing TV programs on the web. But they want to give writers a one-time payment of $250—that's right, $250—for unlimited use of their content online. This unbelievable greed is keeping Jon Stewart and his team off the air.

    Can you sign this petition to the studio executives--and then ask all your friends who love "The Daily Show" to sign it too?

    A compiled petition with your individual comment will be presented to the major studio executives.

  • WGA Willing to Stay at the Table Day and Night Until We Have a Deal

    Patric Verrone and Michael Winship just sent this message to the membership. The WGA is determined to stay at the table until we have a deal. If the AMPTP wants to negotiate in good faith, and end the strike, we are at the table.

    Dear Fellow Members,

    Before we head into negotiations this morning, we want to give you an update on where we stand.

  • UPDATE: End of Day Negotiations Update

    The WGA Negotiating Committee, on behalf of the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE), today issued the following statement regarding Contract 2007 negotiations:

    “The Writers Guilds met today with the AMPTP and discussed issues of jurisdiction for original content for the Internet, Reality TV, Animation, and Basic Cable. The talks also were focused on contract enforcement. For the last two days, we have had substantive discussions of the issues important to writers, the first time this has occurred in this negotiation. However, we are still waiting for the AMPTP to respond to all of our proposals, including Internet streaming of theatrical and television product and digital downloads. Bargaining resumes tomorrow at 10 a.m.”

  • Benefits and Events!

    Update: The "Family Guy" at Carnegie Hall event is Thursday 1/31. The incorrect date has been fixed.

    TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY JANUARY 30:
    NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS WALK THE LINE: Northwestern University Alumni (otherwise known as the "NU Mafia") are cordially invited to join their fellow writers, actors and other supporters on the picket line, Wednesday, January 30, from 11:30-2:30 PM, at NBC Alameda.

  • LA TIMES: Writers Strike is War

    Below is an op-ed piece from Wednesday's Los Angeles Times.

    Stopping the cash flow will strengthen the writers' case, not cutting deals.

    January 9, 2008

    We get the impression, in this third month of the Hollywood writers strike, that morale on the picket lines and in the coffee shops isn't so hot. That's odd, given how strong the writers are looking right now.

    With the downfall of the Golden

  • Picketing Events for Wednesday, Feb 6

    SCI FI CHANNEL DAY FOR FANS & WRITERS:
    Jaime Paglia, co-creator of "Eureka" is inviting fans to join the writers, producers and cast members from Sci Fi Channel's BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, EUREKA, FLASH GORDON, PAINKILLER JANE, and others for a rally at NBC Studios.

    12 noon - 2 pm at NBC STUDIOS, 3000 W. Alameda Ave, Burbank, CA.

    SPOOKY WEDNESDAY AT WARNER BROS:
    For the last two Thursdays writers

  • WGA Continues With Interim Deals

    This was released by the WGA today:

    WRITERS GUILDS REACH INTERIM AGREEMENTS WITH
    INTERMEDIA AND THE FILM DEPARTMENT

    Los Angeles – The Writers Guild of America, West and the Writers Guild of America, East are pleased to announce they have reached interim agreements with The Film Department and Intermedia. The Guilds continue to sign agreements with companies that value the essential role writers

  • CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS

    MONDAY DECEMBER 17th:

  • STRIKER’S STUDIO WALK-A-THON: A 7 mile walk beginning at Disney’s main gate at 9:00 am. For more information, please contact Josh Singer at jsinger10@gmail.com
  • DAYTIME UNITED: The writers of Daytime Dramas, Telenovelas, and Internet Serials are hosting a special picket event on Monday, December 17th, from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm at CBS Television City, on the Fairfax side. This will coincide with a similar event in Manhattan, organized by WGAE. With the enthusiastic support of AFTRA, the actors from our favorite Daytime Dramas -- plus directors, staff and crew -- will join the picket line in solidarity with the writers. For more information, please contact Karen Harris (poainc@sbcglobal.net) or Sara Bibel (sarab@earthlink.net )
  • Patric Verrone Email to Members: DGA Talks, Weinstein Company, CBS Newswriters Deal

    To My Fellow Members,

    This afternoon, the Directors Guild announced that it would commence formal negotiations with the AMPTP tomorrow. In a joint press release with the Screen Actors Guild, the Writers Guilds, West and East, wished the DGA well and offered our hope that they achieve a fair deal that incorporates principles that will benefits all creative artists. We further stated that, while

  • AMPTP PROMISES TO COME BACK TO THE TABLE

    (Breaking news from the WGA - the AMPTP has agreed to come back to the table on November 26th. Now, let's hope they are prepared to make a fair deal. This is progress. Everyone wants to go back to work. Everyone wants fair compensation for their work.)


    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    November 16, 2007

  • Elisberg: Cieply View Of WGA "Different Than The Reality"

    Robert J. Elisberg, who writes the regular WGA Strike Primer columns on The Huffington Post, responds below to Michael Cieply's recent article in the New York Times entitled, Writers Strike Tests Mettle of 2 Outsiders.

    Last week, Michael Cieply wrote once-again about his perception of “fissures” in the Writers Guild. It’s a theme of his. Back during the 1988 WGA strike he specialized in writing

  • WGA Press Conference Today

    This media advisory was just sent out by the WGA:

    The Writers Guild of America will hold a press conference today, Sunday, Feb. 10, 12 Noon PST, at WGAW headquarters to update the media on important developments related to contract negotiations between the WGA and the AMPTP companies.

    Scheduled to appear: WGAW President Patric M. Verrone, WGAE President Michael Winship (available via phone line

  • Readathon Benefits Industry Support Fund

    This article was submitted by WGA member Michael Arkof. It runs today in Writers: On The Line, a weekly print newsletter distributed at picket locations.
    AND A CHILD SHALL READ THEM

    Sabrina Batchler didn’t write the book on supporting the WGA strike, but she is reading one. Lots of them, actually. The eleven year-old is conducting a Read-a-thon to raise money for the Writers Guild Foundation, to

  • MAD TV Writers Put on Benefit Show

    THE WRITER'S OF FOX'S MAD TV ARE PUTTING ON A SHOW!

    Original sketches written and performed by the writing staff of MAD TV to benefit the show's script department (which was put out of work because of the
    strike.)

    All fans of the show are encouraged to attend for a fun-filled night of hilarity. Hell, who are we kidding, even if you hate the show, we want you to come!

    WHEN: Monday, January 14th

  • Hey, CBS, NBC, ABC, KCAL, FOX, We're Over Here

    Today, Tuesday, 11/20/07, Los Angeles will experience a labor rally in support of the WGA strike. Marching west on Hollywood Boulevard from Ivar and gathering in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater, thousands upon thousands will join together to celebrate the importance of labor unions in American life.

    And how will you know about this momentous occasion? You'll have to be there.

    At the last rally in front of Fox Studios, 4,000 writers and their supporters marched and rallied, but when you watched the evening news, you'd never know it . There was plenty of time that night to talk about lost kittens but nothing about the peaceful march that closed down Pico Boulevard and Avenue of the Stars.

    Today's rally marks a crucial juncture: a mass demonstration of our strength before the negotiations restart.

  • Support for Deal from Great Britain

    The following letter was sent to Charles Slocum of the Guild west and Mona Mangan of the Guild east.

    Dear Chuck, Mona and all WGA colleagues,

    The Writers' Guild of Great Britain Executive Council met today (Monday) and members were delighted that a deal is being recommended and the strike is likely to end within the next few days.

    We salute the WGA, east and west, on the unity and discipline

  • Strike Officially Over - Contract Ratified with 93.6% Approval

    (The following is a letter from the presidents.)

    To Our Fellow Members:

    Today, it is our pleasure to inform you that members of the Writers Guilds of America, East and West, have voted to ratify the MBA contract with 93.6% approval. With a total of 4,060 votes cast, the tally was 3,802 to 258. These numbers reaffirm the tremendous level of support and commitment our membership has continuously demonstrated over these last few crucial months.

    We are also pleased to report that the trustees of our health fund voted yesterday to follow the recommendation in our strike settlement agreement to provide additional coverage and an extension of the earnings cycle for a full quarter (three months) to participants who would otherwise lose health coverage following an earnings cycle that included all or a portion of the strike period. Participants whose health coverage is paid for by points will only be charged points if they have ten or more points as of April 1, 2008.

  • Writers Guild Members Overwhelmingly Ratify New Contract

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    February 26, 2008

    Writers Guild Members Overwhelmingly Ratify New Contract

  • MLK March in Georgia Will Include WGA

    This letter is from Phil Nutman & Jason Dolan. -JA

    Dear fellow WGA members and supporters:

    Further to previous discussions, we can now confirm that the Writers Guild of America members in Georgia have been formally invited to participate in next Monday's Martin Luther King Day parade and rally.

    As this is the 40th anniversary of the King Day Parade, the Writers Guild of America is proud and

  • Weinstein Company Deal Closed

    Here's the press release that just went out:

    THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY AND THE WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA ANNOUNCE INDEPENDENT AGREEMENT

    NEW YORK, NY and LOS ANGELES, CA – (January 11, 2008) – The Weinstein Company (TWC) and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) announced today that they have signed a comprehensive independent agreement. While the details are not being disclosed, the deal addresses the

  • Phil Alden Robinson on United Hollywood Live

    Oscar-nominated writer-director and WGA board member Phil Alden Robinson will be the special guest today, November 28th, on United Hollywood Live (12-1:30PM Pacific/3-4:30PM Eastern). Robinson has been an articulate voice on behalf of writers during the current strike.

    Today's show also features live reports from the various picket lines, video clips and a surprise guest or three.

    Tune in by CLICKING HERE (or by using the widget located along the right hand side of UnitedHollywood.com). The show, which airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday, is also available as a podcast immediately after each broadcast via the widget.

  • Writers and Advertisers Talking

    Last week a coalition of WGA members went to NYC to talk with the seven largest media buyers on Wall Street.

    These ad buyers are the large corporations (like Proctor & Gamble, Johson & Johnson, etc.) who advertise on TV and pay the networks' bills.

    Our WGA crew, lead by Matthew Weiner, showrunner of "Mad Men," laid out our position to the advertisers -- who for some reason might not be getting entirely accurate forecasts from their corporate customers like CBS.

    The event was a success. The coalition of media buyers agreed that our demands are reasonable and that it was "irresponsible on the part of the networks not to settle this dispute immediately."