WGA Picket Lines Won’t Hit The Streets First Thing Tuesday If There Is A Strike; Guild Plans Shrine Auditorium Meeting For Weds, Deal Or No Deal
01.05.2023 - 02:13
/ deadline.com
EXCLUSIVE: While the Writers Guild of America will continue to negotiate with the studios right up to the expiration of their current contact on May 1, strike preparations are underway — but Hollywood might not see picket lines as quickly as you think.
In fact, the WGA will likely not have its first picket lines out on the streets “until Tuesday afternoon,” sources tell me. Add to that, the guild leadership are planning a big meeting on May 3 at the over 6,000 capacity Shrine Auditorium to explain to members why they do or do not have an agreement with the AMPTP.
With the tense atmosphere gripping the town right now, the explaintion of the later than expected WGA picket start time is actually more bureaucratic than dramatic.
Like any large organization, the WGA has procedures. and part of the procedure in the case of a strike is that the WGA West Board and the WGA East council have to formally approve said strike action, if it comes to that. That approval, and the activation that would follow, could take a few hours, hence the May 2 PM start time for picketing.
The scribes are technically in a strike position at 12:01 AM on May 2 if no deal is made with the AMPTP for a new three-year contract. With a nearly 98% strike authorization vote mandate earlier this month and placards already printed, the WGA leadership are ready to hit the labor action button at any time if they choose.
A weekend of “deeply engaged” talks, as one insider put it has ended today. Aiming to resume tomorrow, the Ellen Stutzman-led WGA Negotiating Committee and the Carol Lombardini-led studio reps anticipate bargaining late into the night Monday as the contract expiration deadline looms.
This comes as the WGA sent out a survey to members Sunday