Solidarity: Teamsters as "Individuals" Will Not Cross Screenwriters Picket Lines

Submitted by Joe638NYC on Tue, 10/30/2007 - 7:38pm.

Writers Guild Of America (TV and screen writers working under the MBA contract-not to be confused with the CBS workers *please read 2nd comment-sorry for any confusion) are prepared to strike at any time after 10/31 .

 

WGA wants its members to receive payment when their work is featured on the internet and via mobile phones.

The Teamsters Local 399 who work in the film industry have a no strike clause in their contract , but in a show of solidarity one Teamster source has explained that they can still disrupt production by refusing to cross picket lines as individuals and in doing so are Federally protected under law .

FROM:


United Press International - News. Analysis. Insight.™ - 100 Years of Journalistic Excellence

 

Teamsters encouraged to support WGA

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- An official for the Teamsters union in Hollywood is encouraging members not to cross picket lines should the Writers Guild of America go out on strike.

Negotiations were slated to resume Tuesday at the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers offices, however, if an agreement can't be reached, members of the WGA could walk out as early as Thursday, Variety.com said.

While a no-strike clause in their contracts prevents the Teamsters -- a union that represents more than 4,000 Hollywood drivers, location managers and scouts, casting directors and animal wranglers -- from striking, picketing or boycotting a producer, they can still disrupt production by refusing to cross picket lines as individuals, the trade paper said.

"As for me as an individual, I will not cross any picket line whether it is sanctioned or not because I firmly believe that Teamsters do not cross picket lines," Teamsters Local 399 secretary-treasurer Leo Reed said in a posting on the union's Web site.

"If the strike is sanctioned by (parent union) Joint Council 42, the producers have agreed that they will not discipline any employee who refuses to cross. Federal law protects you if you choose otherwise," Reed wrote.

______________________________________

In related news of the Nov.15th possible strike , BBC reports on what it's effects would be for the TV industry



Related links:
http://unionreview.com/press-release%3A-writers-guild-workers-cbs-will-vote-auth...
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Great

Submitted by Richard on Wed, 10/31/2007 - 2:19pm.
Hey man, I just returned from my trip and saw this posted here. You did a great job on this piece -- where is the graphic from? -R
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Thanks

Submitted by Joe638NYC on Wed, 10/31/2007 - 4:42pm.

I found the image via Google images search for "solidarity" , kinda liked it myself , sorry for the confusion in the story at first , hope I clarified it . Thank you Sherry Goldman , please keep us updated .

 In solidarity

Joe 


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Comment from a spokesperson for the Writers Guild East

Submitted by Richard on Wed, 10/31/2007 - 3:54pm.

The following comment was sent to me in an email. I called the person who sent it and suggested we just post her note so so that we can get clarity to this issue. In addition, she has a Union Review user name and password and was welcomed to come back to the site to post updates on this on-going labor dispute - Richard

 

Hi Richard -

While I really appreciate this post - it is confusing 2 separate strike authorization votes. The Teamsters (and Local 399) have publicly demonstrated solidarity to our TV and screen writers working under the MBA contract. The MBA expires at midnight tonight - and our membership voted 90.3% to give the Writers Guild East and West authority to call a strike, if needed. That strike could occur anytime after midnight tonight unless a settlement is reached at the table ( we negotiate with the AMPTP)

November 15th is the strike authorization vote for Writers Guild members who are CBS Newswriters. They have been working under an expired contract since April 1, 2005 and resounding rejected CBS's contract proposal offer by 99% in a November 2006 vote. CBS refuses to offer the members any revision to that offer so resoundingly rejected - and the strike authorization vote on the 15th is the next step. Should membership authorize a strike, which we expect they will, we can call a strike for CBS News employees at any time.

But - again - these are 2 separate contracts and labor issues. If possible, I'd appreciate this being clarified on your site - especially since I don't want you to have erroneous information posted that the TV/film writers are going on strike on Nov. 15.

Let me know if I can provide you with any additional information.

Best,
Sherry Sherry Goldman for the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE)

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