The AMPTP (the combine that represents the major motion picture and TV producers) has made its "final offer" to the Writers Guild of America, and the Writers Guild has rejected it. This news story will give you a general overview and this press release from the WGA basically tells them to shove it, only in nicer language than that. So we are continuing to work without a contract and they say they won't negotiate any more with us at this time.
What is happening here is that the structure of the AMPTP, which in the past worked against the unions with which it negotiates, is now working against the AMPTP Its various members (Disney, Paramount, Sony, etc.) operate under a "Rule of One." When it comes time for the AMPTP to make an offer or accept an offer, any one studio can veto the deal. They all have to agree.
During many Hollywood strikes, it has been widely believed that this "Rule of One" was prolonging the unrest. In '88, we were out for many months and the rumor was that some of the studios wanted to just give us what we wanted but one or two were fighting internally and withholding their votes. A strike does not hurt all the employers equally, and some perhaps liked the fact that their competitors were being harmed more than they were. Some studios even make short-term savings when there's a strike so they're in less hurry to settle than someone else. There were also — again, the rumor mill at work — reports that two studio heads were quarreling over a business deal unrelated to the Writers Guild situation and that one was blocking the settlement until the other gave in on an unrelated point. Whether these leaks were true or not, they were at least possible due to the way the AMPTP is structured.
Our old contract expired a month ago so at any time, we can vote to go on strike or the Producers can vote to lock us out. What seems to be happening at the moment is that the Producers cannot agree amongst themselves on whether they want to lock us out…or if so, when.
What will happen next will depend on whether the Producers can get together and decide to set a deadline: "Either accept our offer by such-and-such a date or we'll lock you out." If they can, then war could break out and we'll get a sense of how strong and determined each side is. If the Producers can't agree to set a deadline then we keep on working and eventually, our cause will merge with that of the Screen Actors Guild and the Directors Guild, whose contracts are up for renewal and renegotiation next year. The prospect of the three major unions all demanding better health insurance at the same time might just scare the studios into dealing with us now. So I don't really know what's happening. I only know it's never happened before.