WGA East And West Issue Joint Press Release On Negotiations

Michael Winship, the President of the Writers Guild of America, East and Patric M. Verrone, the President of the Writers Guild of America, West issued a joint press release today on the state of the ongoing negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers. Press release after the jump ... Dear Fellow Members, Before we head into negotiations this morning, we want to give you an update on where we stand. On Tuesday, after the companies had requested a four day break so they could work on their proposals, we returned to the bargaining table. We presented a counter proposal to their streaming proposal of November 29th. They presented no new proposals. On Wednesday, the AMPTP again had no new proposals, but they did have detailed questions about our streaming counter proposal and other aspects of our overall proposals, and from the give and take of those discussions, we felt that they might finally be ready to engage in serious bargaining. They told us they would have new proposals for us Thursday. On Thursday, we met at 10am, and they told us their new proposals would be ready shortly. At 5pm they told us their proposals still werenâ€™t ready, that they would be working on them late into the night, and that we should come back this morning at 10am. The fact that we saw everyone from the AMPTP leave the building by 6:45 pm is not a promising sign, but we will be at the table at 10am this morning, ready to receive their new proposal. We'd like to address some of the disturbing rumors and back channel communications weâ€™ve been hearing. For one, we've heard that one or more of the companies are prepared to throw away the spring and fall TV season, plus features, and prolong the strike. Aside from the devastating effect this would have on the unions, workers and their families in this industry, it would certainly explain the AMPTP's refusal to put any new proposals, even a bad one, on the table. Also, highly placed executives have been telling some of our writers that the companies are preparing to abruptly cut off negotiations. They say the companies plan to accuse the WGA of stalling and being unwilling to negotiate, and that the companies will use that as an excuse to walk out. The Writers Guilds of America, East and West are going on record now that any such claims are absolutely untrue. We have been at the negotiating table every day, willing to bargain. Furthermore, we hereby challenge the AMPTP to negotiate in good faith, day and night, through the Christmas and New Years holidays -- whatever is necessary -- to get this done and get the town back to work. The Writers Guilds will remain at the table every day, for as long as it takes, to make a fair deal. Thank you for your patience, support and solidarity through these difficult times. We remain all in this together. Michael Winship President Writers Guild of America , East Patric M. Verrone President Writers Guild of America , West

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WGA East And West Issue Joint Press Release On Negotiations

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