770 Writers Sign On To WGA Statement Of Support

The WGA and the Association of Talent Agents (ATA) continue to meet in an effort to hammer out a new  agreement ahead of the April 6 deadline for a deal. Both sides have also been waging a battle in the industry press, releasing studies and statements making what they think is the best case for their side.

Part of the ATA negotiating strategy has been to try and peel off some writers from the WGA negotiating effort. Partly by arguing that the current ATA stance on packaging fees helps writers in general. And also by suggesting that any split between the writers and their agents will adversely impact lower-echelon writers. The unsaid ATA argument has been "Hey, those big-shot showrunners and top writers will be fine. But who will be fighting for you, that writer that no one knows? You need your agent, that person you know and probably like."

A number of writers have been discussing their thoughts on the negotiations on social media and one central theme is that while it's true that mid-level writers will probably be more impacted if a deal doesn't happen, they are also the ones most impacted by the current packaging approach. These are the writers who end up lumped into a package without much negotiating leverage. And even if you are at the level of a Joss Whedon or Shonda Rhimes, you vividly remember what it was like to be at that spot in your career. Writers have learned the painful lesson over the years that in the end, your best allies are other writers. Because you never know what your career will look like five or ten years down the road.

So the WGA's answer to the latest ATA argument came on Saturday, when 770 showrunners and writers from all levels of the business signed on to a WGA Statement Of Support:

We are voting YES to support Guild implementation of an Agency Code of Conduct after the current AMBA expires on April 6th, if there is no negotiated settlement.

We agree a new agency agreement should:

• Confront practices that constitute a conflict of interest: agency packaging fees and agencies functioning as producers.
• Require the agencies to work with the Guild to protect writers’ interests by providing writer contracts, invoices and other information.

In accordance with Working Rule 23, we will only be represented as writers by agencies franchised by the Guild.

We commit to support our fellow Guild members following termination of the current agreement.

The WGA and ATA are expected to meet again on Tuesday. The following day, WGA members begin voting to approve a new Code of Conduct that would bar packaging fees and force agencies to sever their ties with affiliated production companies.