Following two weeks of contract talks the Writers Guild Of America (WGA) has set a strike authorisation vote from April 11-17.
Members will receive an email with a link to the ballot when the vote begins on April 11.
“The studios need to respond to the crisis writers face,” the WGA posted on Twitter on Monday. “WGA members must demonstrate our willingness to fight for the contract writers need and deserve by supporting a strike authorization vote.
“The effect of a yes vote is to authorize the WGA leadership to call for a strike after May 1st if the companies are unwilling to meet our reasonable and fair demands.
“Over the past decade, the companies embraced business practices that slashed our compensation and undermined our working conditions. We are asking to restore writer pay & conditions to reflect our value to this industry. The survival of our profession is at stake.”
If the vote is carried by members it would clear the way for strike action although it is not known when that would start after the current basic agreement between the Guild and producers expires.
It remained unclear at time of writing when WGA negotiators might reconvene with their counterparts at the Alliance Of Motion Picture And Television Producers. Contract talks started on March 20.
The writers are regarded as the most resolute of the Hollywood trade guilds with regard to willingness to take industrial action.
The group went on strike for 100 days in late 2007/early 2008 and recently pushed successfully for agencies to divest themselves of their majority ownership stakes in production entities.
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