Message on W.G.A From The Desk of Tobey Bays
Dear Sisters, Brothers and Kin,
Bargaining between the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) and the Writers Guild of America (WGA west & east) continues and will likely continue through the weekend. The WGA contract will expire at midnight Monday, May 1, 2023. This means a strike could go into effect as early as 12:01 AM on Tuesday, May 2nd. However, bargaining may continue beyond expiration and may do so as long as there’s progress towards a deal. Regardless, it’s important that you understand your rights as an IATSE member should the WGA call a strike against the AMPTP.
We understand that at this moment there might be a lot of confusion and questions around the WGA negotiations. Please carefully read the legal memo emailed to you from International President Loeb outlining your rights under our agreements. If you have not received the memo, you can find it on the Local 44 website. Additionally, we will be hosting a Webinar (emailed) Monday May 1st at 7:00 pm to review this important information and try to answer questions as best as we can.
You have the right to honor a lawful picket line. If you honor the WGA’s picket line, it will be important to inform your employer that you will not be coming into work while the picket line is in place. Send an email to the producer/UPM and your department head as soon as possible. By not informing your employer, they have the right to terminate you as a ‘no show’ for a work call. Also be aware that the employer has the right to replace you with another 44 member…while you are honoring the picket line... When the strike is over, the employer is obliged to offer your position back for that project and only if that project is still in production. Please know that if you honor the picket line, you may not be eligible for unemployment benefits.
UNIONS support UNIONS. Local 44 and the IATSE support the WGA. However, it has to be understood that as your local, there are limits to what we can legally direct our members to do. As a Union, we also know what union members do when they see a picket line. With that said, unions are stronger together, especially when we are supporting other unions that are negotiating with the same employers that we will next year. The WGA has new leadership, and they are aware of the pain the last strike caused. The Teamsters have publicly stated that their members will not cross the picket line. Again, you must make your own decision, but no matter what that decision is, we must respect each other and show support in whatever way we can.
We will update you when there is new information to share.
In solidarity,
Tobey Bays
