Los Angeles County Democratic Party Stands in Solidarity with the Writers Guild of America in Its Fight for a Fair Agreement
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County Democratic Party (LACDP) adopted the following resolution last night in support of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) in its fight for a fair agreement for over 12,000 entertainment industry writers:
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA
“Whereas, the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) has refused to recognize the legitimate claims of the approximately 12,000 members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) to fair remuneration through residuals on the distribution of its members’ creative endeavors on any current distribution platforms and those yet to be developed, including the monitoring and enforcement thereof; and
“Whereas, the AMPTP has had sufficient experience in new media to make confident, public revenue projections to its shareholders, but nevertheless insist that it must study new media for another three years before it can bargain a residuals formula; and
“Whereas, the AMPTP has thus far been unwilling to recognize that the wages, working conditions and residuals provided in the basic WGA contract should govern work created for any platform, new or old; and has thus far been unwilling to bargain in good faith with the WGA; and is unwilling to offer a reasonable compensation proposal on new media, the home video market formula, DVD sales, mobile phone and iPod transmissions; nor to counteroffer WGA payment proposals for Internet streaming and instead calls such use “promotional” even when whole pictures are shown and new revenue is generated.
“Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Los Angeles County Democratic Party fully supports the strike action and the fight for a fair agreement by the Writers Guild of America as a job action necessary to furthering resolution of the issues between it and its signatory employers, and encourages the AMPTP to return to the table and engage in good faith bargaining; and
“Be It Further Resolved, that this Resolution should be transmitted to the WGA, the AMPTP, the California Democratic Party, the media, and interested parties.”
LACDP Chair Eric C. Bauman said, “The Los Angeles County Democratic Party stands in solidarity with the thousands of writers for an agreement that is consistent with the entertainment industry in the 21st century. These hardworking professionals are the creative talents behind our favorite entertainment choices. Their work has reached into our homes and touched our lives for generations. We proudly support the Writers Guild of America in its fight for an agreement that is fair, reasonable, and just.”
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