Writer's Strike

Unless you have been hiding under a rock somewhere, or have a productive life and watch no TV, you probably know that the Writer's Guild is on strike and that pretty much every TV program with the exception of reality TV, is going into hiatus soon. You might also know, that the central issue in the strike has been royalties from internet revenues, a widely unknown and undeveloped field. Like most people, I thought that sounded reasonable and I supported the writers and thought the studios were being particularly greedy. But, then I found out what the writers are really demanding.

While people generally agree that the internet revenues is a legitimate issue, that is not the only thing on the writers' list of demands. There are a whole host of other issues that are ridiculous and that the Union has obstinately refused to drop. First, and foremost on the stupid list is the demand for a right to hold a sympathy strike when other unions go on strike. What management in its right mind would ever grant this right to anyone, especially in a union as far left as the Writer's Guild? Hollywood could shut down every time there was a major labor dispute in the country. Next, the Guild wants the right to unionize and have authority over Reality Television writers. Let's not even go into the contradiction in terms that is "reality television writer." Reality TV is pretty much going to be 99.100% of the spring TV lineup. Why? Because their writers are still working during the strike. That's right, the Guild wants the power to Lord over the very scabs who are offering the networks an alternative to caving to guild demands. Know what else? The reality writes don't even WANT to be part of the Writer's Guild. Why does the union keep insisting on this as a prerequisite to negotiations?

Think that's bad? Wait, there's more. The Guild also wants jurisdiction over animation writers, who also, get this, don't want to be part of the Writer's Guild. That's right, the reason that Jack Bauer will not be making the world safe for democracy this year is that the Writer's guild wants to have authority over the guys who write Toy Story 4. I'm not making this up. The Guild has absolutely refused to give in on these ridiculous and altogether excessive demands. The other side, not being stupid, realizes that there is only one legitimate issue here, and it's going to wait and make a deal with the Director's Guild, which will almost certainly be far more reasonable and not toss in insane requirements to have authority over areas that don't want their leadership anyway. Once a deal is in place with the DGA, the Writers' union will almost certainly have to accept a similar deal on internet revenues, which means that any continuation of the strike would be for these pointless side demands and the writers would look stupid.

I support writers, I really do, but their Union negotiators are WAY off base and they should be dumped in favor of a group who want to get a deal done, and are willing to give in on demands that are clearly asinine.

One more thing. The big story that no one is talking about, is that if the shows don't go back into production by a certain time, the actors all get released from their contracts. That's right, every actor, every show. If you don't think that's going to affect some of the shows you watch, think again. What happens if Jack from LOST decides that he hates the show and doesn't want to come back? What then? I totally support the idea that writers should get a piece of "new media" revenues, but their other demands are ridiculous and they should drop them.