The Writers Guild of America has announced that CBS news writers, graphic artists, and other staff who work for the network's television and radio news operations have voted by a wide margin to strike against their employer. 81% of the 300 ballots cast in a special election last week backed a labor stoppage. They have worked without a contract for the past 2½ years.The union will meet with CBS after Thanksgiving to discuss the issues at hand and decide the course of action they will take. At this time a strike isn't inevitable, but the employees covered by the WGA could technically strike at any time.
According to a spokesman, CBS claims the employees have "one of the best medical plans in the country with minimal employee contributions and fair salary increases to all WGA members, as well." CBS doesn't seem inclined to negotiate with the union as they believe their last offer was fair and reasonable, and remains on the table. CBS officials believe that if a strike occurs, they're in the position to continue to produce the highest quality news programming to their viewers.
The WGA is stating that the last offer by CBS was unacceptable because there would be lower wage increases for local radio employees than for television and national radio employees. The last offer by CBS would also allow the network to run union and nonunion newsrooms. The latter is most likely a large bone of contention for the union as it could threaten their existence and power in the newsrooms.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-19-2007 @ 10:08PM
DaveD said...
Okay, even a small sample of posts - even limited to this site and nowhere else - sheds a light on much bigger things.
(1) There's a serious divide. Deep, and wide. Between the studios that control the distribution (and more) and the groups that compose/act/re-enact the content being distributed.
(2) This divide grew - possibly geometrically, opposed to linearly - when various new means of gaining revenues (along with their associated supply chain costs - evolved. First in the 1990s (VRs, DVDs, then DVRs), then in the first decade of the 21st century (no hard media internet).
(3) Both sides understand what's at stake. Both also understand how to negotiate in the full glare of the media. Meaning - both sides will also try to play their hand properly. (Layoffs, delayed TV seasons, YouTube videos, internet throwaway shows become bought by NBC, threats of lawsuits by SAG).
Today, the major show-of-hand cards are being played by the studios. Prior to new labor meetings next weeks. As it should. One of their larger ones was posted here earlier in a post that specifialy mentioned BSG but really is much more broader than that.
It's just media grandstanding. A pitch high/inside and in your ear so to speak. The REAL truth is that if the studios have to juggle their lineups.... take proven hits off the air for reality shows and imports, cancel/delay/shorten their seasons of the January/February returning shows... the immediate losers are - the studios.
Advertising revenue will fall. Viewership will shortly follow. Thus, the media grandstanding. I'm expecting the next pitch to be low and away.
But watch out for in your ear!
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11-20-2007 @ 10:50AM
RadioScott said...
DaveD....nice comments on the WGA strike against the producers. Honestly. But the strike against CBS News is a different matter. The WGA represents only some of the newswriters in this country including the ones at CBS. The network and the Guild have a separate, exclusive deal.
The strike against CBS News has nothing to do with royalties. It's more about wages and maintaining a union presence in CBS newsrooms.
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