MediaBizzBuzz Writers Strike Alert

Response from Writers on Strike to AMPTP Breaking Off Negotiations in its entirety The following letter was sent on December 7 to members of the Writers Guild of America by John F Bowman Chairman of the WGA Negotiating Committeeamp160AMPTP BREAKS OFF NEGOTIATIONSToday after three days of discussions the AMPTP came back to us with a proposal that included a total rejection of our proposal on Internet streaming of December 3They are holding to their offer of a 250 fixed residual for unlimited one year streaming after a sixweek window of free useamp160 They still insist on the DVD rate for Internet downloadsThey refuse to cover original material made for new mediaThis offer was accompanied by an ultimatumamp160 the AMPTP demands we give up several of our proposals including Fair Market Value our protection against vertical integration and selfdealing animation reality and most crucially any proposal that uses distributor39s gross as a basis for residualsamp160 This would require us to concede most of our Internet proposal as a precondition for continued bargainingThe AMPTP insists we let them do to the Internet what they did to home videoWe received a similar ultimatum through back channels prior to the discussions of November 4amp160 At that time we were assured that if we took DVD39s off the table we would get a fair offer on new media issuesamp160amp160 That offer never materializedWe reject the idea of an ultimatumamp160 Although a number of items we have on the table are negotiable we cannot be forced to bargain with ourselvesamp160 The AMPTP has many proposals on the table that are unacceptable to writers but we have never delivered ultimatumsAs we prepared our counteroffer at 605 pm Nick Counter came and said to us in the mediator39s presenceamp160 quotWe are leavingamp160 When you write us a letter saying you will take all these items off the table we will reschedule negotiations with youquotamp160amp160 Within minutes the AMPTP had posted a lengthy statement announcing the breakdown of negotiationsWe remain ready and willing to negotiate no matter how intransigent our bargaining partners are because the stakes are simply too highWe were prepared to counter their proposal tonight and when any of them are ready to return to the table we39re here ready to make a fair dealJohn F BowmanChairman WGA Negotiating CommitteeContract 2007

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MediaBizzBuzz Writers Strike Alert

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Jerry Weinstein

Empowering Women in Media: Insights from Industry Leaders (Video) - By E.B. Moss

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Click to Make Your 2025 Contribution to Support the MediaVillage Education Foundation

MediaBizzBuzz Writers Strike Alert

Jerry Weinstein

Empowering Women in Media: Insights from Industry Leaders (Video) - By E.B. Moss

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