Category: WGA Strike

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) went on strike from Monday, November 5, 2007 through Tuesday, February 12, 2008. This included all the WGA writers who work on ‘The Office.’

The strike came after “three months of negotiations between the WGA and the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers).” Areas of contention included DVD residuals and payments for “new media” (like last summer’s webisodes).

Latest news:

• Feb. 26: Writers Guild Members Overwhelmingly Ratify New Contract — “The members of the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) today put their final stamp of approval on the deal that ended their 14-week strike, giving writers new rights and protections for work distributed on and created for the Internet and other new media platforms. An overwhelming majority of the WGA membership voted in favor of ratifying the three-year contract by 93.6 percent of 4,060 votes cast in Los Angeles and New York. The term of the agreement is from February 13, 2008 through May 1, 2011.” More NEW

Videos: The Office is Closed | Why We Fight | This Is Our Moment

Call to action: Write a letter | Write a letter (part 2)

Ongoing strike coverage: Deadline Hollywood Daily | United Hollywood

Previous news after the jump. Continue reading “Latest WGA strike news”

Dear Fans of The Office,

It looks like, after many long months, the writers’ strike will be ending very shortly. The vote to temporarily lift the strike while we vote on the contract passed with an overwhelming majority on Tuesday, and while we still technically have to ratify the contract (in a separate vote that takes place over the next two weeks or so), that vote was a very strong signal that we’re almost back to normal.

It was a difficult struggle, and we don’t take lightly the problems it caused for our crew, our actors, and the viewers of the show. In the end, though, we believe it was worth it, because writers have managed to win a share of the future of the industry.

We just want to thank you for the incredible display of support you have given us over the last four months. We never forget how lucky we are to have a fan base that cares so much about what we do, and we are excited to be going back to work, which is the only way we can try to pay you back.

It seems like we will be making six more episodes this year, the first of which is scheduled to air April 10. Right now, that episode will be “Dinner Party,” written by Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky, which we had just begun to film when the strike hit. Also, although we aren’t 100% sure yet, it looks like we may have an hour-long season finale. All of this is subject to change, but seems likely. (Just stay tuned to OfficeTally — tanster will probably somehow find out all the developments before we do.)

In the meantime, we’re back at work, and would like to thank you, again, for everything.

Sincerely,

The Office Writers

Update: live blogging from the picket line continues today at 10:30am PT; check back often! (And if you have a message for any of the writers, please post a comment. I will try to show the writers your notes on my phone while we’re walking!)

I’m going to try to report live from today’s picket line via Utterz, which lets me blog on-the-go right from my cell phone. Newest updates will appear first.

Everything I post will end up in the widget below. Just click the Play button!

Tip: Go to my Utterz page to see the full-sized versions of the photos.