WGA Voices: Peter Lefcourt

• The contract between the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) expires on October 31, 2007. Currently, the WGA leadership has called for a strike authorization vote. Here is an e-mail I received from another WGA friend and board member (we worked together on an ABC series) Peter Lefcourt.
  

From Peter Lefcourt, WGAw Board of Directors

In the mail you have received, or will soon, a ballot for a strike authorization vote. This is probably the most important Guild membership vote in the last 20 years. Some exposition: First of all, A STRIKE AUTHORIZATION VOTE IS NOT A STRIKE VOTE. It merely authorizes your elected representatives, the officers and Board of Directors, to call for a strike if we deem that management has not negotiated in good faith and/or floated a substandard contract. It is, in essence, a vote of trust that the people you helped elect will make a reasoned decision if and when a strike becomes a clear option.

A strong membership vote, 90% plus, will give the Negotiating Committee leverage and may prompt the conglommerates we are in business with actually to stop stonewalling and get serious. The fact is that up till now the only thing they seem to be interested in talking about is the dismemberment of our residual system -- something we've had for 30 some odd years and had to strike to get. They have refused even to discuss any of our pattern of demands: compensation for digital delivery; jurisdiction over reality TV, improved percentages for DVD's, etc.

I believe that a strong Strike Authorization Vote is, in effect, the best weapon against a strike. If we can induce them to make a decent offer we won't have to go out. But if they don't, rest assured that the negotiating committee (check out the names of the people on that committee attached to your ballot), officers and Board will not call  strike lightly. It would only come after serious debate and soul searching. We are all working writers who would be affected professionally and economically by a work stoppage.

If the authorization is turned down, or passed with a luke warm majority, it will be a clear signal to management that we are weak and divided, and you can be sure they will offer bupkis or, if there is something, less that bubkis (nupkis).

So please vote yes, mail off your ballot and talk to your friends. We are all in this together.

Peter