On the one-month anniversary of Writers Guild of America (WGA) members being on strike, more than 50 members of the New York State Senate and Assembly signed letters to Carol Lombardini, President of the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers (AMPTP), demanding the Studio association immediately return to the bargaining table with the WGA.
A letter from the Senate and one from the Assembly were delivered Friday morning, and both state, “We understand that, despite many weeks at the bargaining table, the AMPTP rejected a range of Writers Guild proposals that are essential to the well-being of writers in the episodic television, comedy-variety, and feature film areas. We call on the AMPTP, and its affiliated companies, to listen closely to what their writers are telling them about the difficulties in maintaining careers as streaming continues to transform the industry. We call on you to negotiate in good faith to reach a reasonable agreement with the Writers Guilds.”
Further, the letters call out the Studios for stalling on negotiations shortly after New York State voted to expand the Empire State Film Production tax credit, writing, “This film and television production incentive provides hundreds of millions of dollars in tax credits every year to companies represented by the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers. It is disturbing to note that the same companies that will benefit enormously from this expanded tax credit have failed to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement with the Writers Guilds of America, East and West, whose members are on strike across the country.”
New York State Senator Jessica Ramos (D-Queens, SD-17) and New York State Assemblywoman Latoya Joyner (D-Bronx, 77th AD) led the effort to gain support from 19 Senate members and 33 Assembly members.
“The writers on strike aren’t just standing up for dignified wages. This contract fight gets to the heart of existential issues facing the future of work,” said Senator Jessica Ramos. “My colleagues and I are proud to stand with the Writers Guild in their demands for good faith bargaining.”
“The members of the Writers Guild are at the heart of New York’s creative community and they bring an incredible energy and vitality that makes our state a truly dynamic and exciting place to live,” said Assemblywoman Latoya Joyner, chair of the Assembly Labor Committee. “I am proud to have so many of my colleagues join me in urging the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers to reach a contract with the Writers Guild that truly recognizes the talent of their members and treats them fairly and with respect.”
Read the letter from the New York State Senate below:
Dear Ms. Lombardini,
We, the undersigned, write to support the Writers Guild of America in their contract negotiations with the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). Despite many weeks at the bargaining table, the AMPTP rejected a range of Writers Guild proposals that are essential to the well-being of writers in the episodic television, comedy-variety, and feature film areas. It is unacceptable for writers to have their earnings decline, in some instances as much as 23%, inflation-adjusted, in the last ten years while studio, network, and streaming companies’ profits soar.
Relatedly the State Legislature recently joined in a historic vote to expand New York’s Empire State Film Production Tax Credit in the FY 2024 Budget. This film and television production incentive provides hundreds of millions of dollars in tax credits yearly to companies represented by the AMPTP.
It is disturbing to note that the same companies that will benefit enormously from this expanded tax credit have yet to negotiate a fair collective bargaining agreement with the Writers Guilds of America East and West, whose members are on strike nationwide.
Thousands of Writers Guild members live and work in New York City, the most expensive city in the country and others live in communities across the state, and their ability to maintain careers in the entertainment industry is of profound importance to us.
The industry continues to experience significant upheaval, and writers work harder for less money, shorter periods, and fewer opportunities to advance. The writers are asking for nothing more than the ability to build and sustain careers in the entertainment industry.
We find it distasteful that companies insist on hiring writers on a day-to-day basis in a race to the bottom to make employment in this area akin to the gig industry rather than treating members of the Writers Guild of America as the professionals they are.
Therefore, we call on the AMPTP and its affiliated companies to bargain in good faith and listen to what their writers tell them about the difficulties in maintaining careers as streaming continues transforming the industry.
Sincerely,
Jessica Ramos
New York State Senator,
REELated:
Read the letter from the New York State Assembly below:
More than 11,500 members of the Writers Guild of America went on strike beginning March 2, 2023, after nearly 98% of the membership voted to authorize a strike if a fair deal could not be reached with the AMPTP before their contract expired on May 1, 2023. Late last night the Directors Guild of America reached a tentative deal with the AMPTP.
