TV Squad has been reporting on the America's Next Top Model writer's strike for awhile now. So, you've been through all of this by now. Reality TV shows do have writers, and ANTM writers want to be treated as such. They want all the rights accorded to members of the Writer's Guild. Things like pensions, better pay, residuals and healthcare. Thus far, the powers-that-be at ANTM have gotten away without coming to the table, and the writers have not been able to attain coverage by the Guild.But, ANTM may not be able to get away without talking unionization much longer because the Teamsters are coming.
The Teamsters are planning to strike the CW production in the next couple of weeks. They are seeking union recognition for the ANTM's drivers, location managers, casting directors and other staff members. Negotiation attempts have, no surprise, been rejected by the higher-ups.
The CW may have been able to snuff out the writer's strike for the time being, but the Teamsters are, uh, Teamsters. The Teamsters attained the first union contract last year for 500 Hollywood and New York casting directors, which according to Variety, was one of the few significant labor pools in Hollywood that had yet to be unionized.
Now, if the WGA could just take a note or two from Local 399, reality show writers might be in business.
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