Writers Guild of America threatens to go on strike over pay
The 20,000-strong Writers Guild of America has threatened to go on strike by May 2 if a deal with Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers is not reached.
The WGA has set April 19 to 24 as the period for members to cast their strike authorization vote.
As this developed, the AMPTP has remained to have a hard-line position although this Monday, April 10, its officers will meet with WGA counterparts for a resumption of their talks. The alliance represents the major studios, networks and independent producers.
The last time the two parties met the major bone of contention is on the rise of shorter TV seasons. At present, an estimated two-thirds of all series have eight to 12 episodes per season, versus the old broadcast landscape in which shows typically ranged from 22 to 24 episodes, according to Los Angeles Times.
In that report, WGA argued that the per-week income of writers has been declining because as shows become cinematic episodes that once took two weeks to film can now take three to four weeks.
On the other hand, streaming services like Netflix and Amazon have been hitting good incomes at the present time, which has been described as the new Golden Age of TV. Ironically, in the clamor of writers, the golde age is disadvantageous to them as their incomes declined further affecting their health and pension coverages.
The two parties have still up to May 1 to strike a deal so as not to repeat the 2007 WGA strike that brought catastrophic impact to Los Angeles economy. Producers are hoping a deal would be made as there was a billion dollar wasted the last time the WGA struck that lasted 100 days.
Already, WGA has sent AT&T and Time Warner Cable shareholders a letter, warning them of the impact a strike could have on both earnings and the pending merger between the two.
WGA warned that work stoppage will immediately commence on May 2 if no agreement is reached.
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