Writers Guild of America
The Writers Guild of America ( WGA) is the collective union of the authors in the film and television industry in the United States.
It is divided into a western and eastern part. The eastern area is part of the trade union federation AFL -CIO. It currently has about 12,000 members (as of 2007 ). The union also provides for the health and pension benefits of the members. They also monitors compliance with the copyright law.
With the Writers Guild of America Award, the WGA praises from a well-known literary and film price.
Strike in 1988
On strike in 1988 took 9000 Authors of both unions, the Writers Guild of America, East ( WGAE ) and the Writers Guild of America, West ( WGAW ) part. The strike lasted from March 7 to August 7, 1988. Included both television and movie productions affected.
Strike 2007-2008
In November 2007, the Writers Guild of America called for an indefinite strike, which lasted until 12 February 2008. This was due to failed negotiations for higher royalties on DVD and internet sales. All upcoming television and movie productions without finished scripts could not be continued until the end of the strike.
Some American television still had enough screenplays for stock to come by a prolonged period strike for their series. Most series, however, were directly affected by the strike and were either sent in the early winter break and / or had to reckon with shortened seasons. Especially affected by the strike were also telenovelas and soap operas because their screenplays to be written continuously. After a while, television stations put emphasis on repetition, News, Reality TV, and shipments without screenplays (for example, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? ).
Since all 24 episodes were not ready by the seventh season of the television series and so no continuous emission could be guaranteed, the broadcasting of the entire season as a result of the strike was postponed by one year to January 2009.
The strikers were supported by many actors.
The talk shows The Tonight Show and Late Night with Conan O'Brien went despite the ongoing writers' strike from January 2, 2008 back on the air. The showrunner justified their decision with their responsibility towards the employees. The talk shows produced by David Letterman's production company Worldwide Pants also went on 2 January 2008 back on the air after the WGA and Worldwide Pants graduating a degree based on the demands of the union. A preliminary contract under similar conditions closed the run by Tom Cruise independent film studio United Artists beginning of January 2008 with the WGA. Warner Bros. threatened due to the ongoing strike with the deletion of 1,000 jobs. Since the productions declined, all positions could not be financed.
The producers of the gala for the Golden Globe Awards 2008 were unable to agree with the WGA on the suspension of the protests during the scheduled 13 January 2008 television show against it. After the Screen Actors Guild SAG declared their solidarity with the striking writers and the absence of all nominated film and television actor had announced the Golden Globe ceremony did not take place as planned. Instead, the winners were announced at a press conference. Even the Academy Awards on February 24, 2008, the WGA had threatened the picketing. The financial loss, which was created by the elimination of advertising revenue, amounted to several million dollars. Attributable revenue - share for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association ( HFPA ) was estimated at 5 million dollars.
After negotiating a preliminary contract with the AMPTP (Association of Film and Television Producers ), the strike ended with a ballot of the authors on February 12, 2008. The authors returned to their work, the awarding of the Oscars took place undisturbed.