New Charge in Writers Strike

The Writers Guild of America filed a federal complaint against the major studios that they were not bargaining in good faith over a new contract. The complaint to the National Labor Relations Board alleged the studios had violated federal law by ending contract negotiations Dec. 7 after the guild refused to meet their demand to take several proposals off the table, the Los Angeles Times reported. Television and film writers went on strike Nov. 5 after the guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers failed to negotiate a new contract. The two sides are far apart on the compensation writers should receive when their work is distributed online and through mobile devices. In a statement released Dec. 13, the Writers Guild said it was “the height of irresponsibility and intransigence” for the studios to refuse to negotiate a fair contract. In response, the Alliance called the NLRB complaint “baseless” and an “indication that the WGA’s negotiating strategy has achieved nothing for working writers.” About 60 television shows shut down production due to the strike, which is cost an estimated 10,000 jobs, the Times said.