Summary
Formal negotiations between the writers guilds and producers began in January 1988. The main disagreements included:
- residuals for hour-long shows (producers, claiming syndicated reruns of these shows were performing poorly in syndication, wanted a softened, percentage-based formula; writers wanted a residual hike)
- expanded creative rights (the writers wanted consultation on the choice of actors and directors for some projects)
- cost cuts in other areas (a producers' demand)
The guilds' previous deal with producers expired on February 29, 1988. One day later, 96% of guild membership authorized a strike. On March 7, 1988, one day after rejecting a softened final offer from producers, 9,000 movie and television writers went on strike. Negotiations would take place during March and April under a federal mediator but would break off until resuming on May 23, again with a federal mediator.
After intensive bargaining, producers would make a "strike settlement offer" on June 16, 1988; the offer included an extended contract term (to 4 years) and expansion of creative rights, but still included the percentage-based residuals studios demanded and not a foreign residual increase writers demanded. The offer would be turned down by the Guilds' membership by a 3-1 margin.
During July 1988, the Guild devised an interim contract; membership would approve it, and more than 150 smaller producers would sign it. Major studios and outlets including Fox, Paramount, and the "Big Three" television networks would refuse projects from the independents who signed the Guild's deal, leading to the Guild filing an antitrust suit accusing 18 studios and networks of mounting an illegal boycott. It was not all peace and love within the Guild, however, as 21 dissident Guild members who still favored the June 16 offer would file a charge with the National Labor Relations Board to seek invalidation of Guild rules that would bar them from returning to work during a strike; some dissidents threatened to resign Guild membership and return to work if the strike was not settled by July 28.
On July 23, 1988, formal bargaining resumed, again under the auspices of federal mediators; by July 30, however, talks collapsed, with studios threatening to not bargain any further and to concentrate on producing work with non-union scripts. Behind-the-scenes "shuttle diplomacy" involving Guild negotiators, studio heads, and emissaries would begin on July 31 in an effort to revive talks. Guild officials and studio representatives would meet on August 2 to discuss the proposals, and on August 3 announced a tentative deal. While the new deal gave studios the sliding residual scale they sought for hour-long reruns, writers won a modest financial gain when hour-long shows are sold internationally; the writers also gained creative rights regarding original screenplays and TV movies. The Guild board approved the deal by a 26-6 vote; Guild membership would approve the deal as well (2,111 in favor, 412 against), and the strike formally ended on August 7, 1988.
Read more about this topic: 1988 Writers Guild Of America Strike
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