Σε Απεργία οι Αμερικάνοι Σεναριογράφοι (UPDATE4)

Με τις συνομιλίες μεταξύ των AMPTP και WGA να ναυαγούν την προηγούμενη εβδομάδα, ο πρόεδρος της DGA(Directors Guild of America) Michael Apted εξέδωσε μία ανακοίνωση στην οποία αναφέρει ότι θα καθυστερήσει τις διαπραγματεύσεις με το AMPTP για το νέο έτος. Ιδού η εν λόγω ανακοίνωση:

"Although the DGA has a long history of early negotiations, this year we held off starting our own formal talks with the AMPTP for two months out of respect for our sister guild. Instead, we watched the writers' negotiations closely while preparing for our turn at bat.

We are deeply disappointed by the breakdown of talks between the WGA and the AMPTP with no end to the strike in sight. Like everyone else in the industry, we had hoped that the two parties would be able to reach a fair and reasonable deal that adequately compensates talent for the work they create.

But now the situation is dire. The WGA-AMPTP impasse has cost the jobs of tens of thousands of entertainment-industry workers, including many of our own members, and more lose their jobs every day the strike continues. With so much at stake and no end to the standoff in sight, we can no longer abdicate our responsibility to our own members. Because we want to give the WGA and the AMPTP more time to return to the negotiating table to conclude an agreement, the DGA will not schedule our negotiations to begin until after the New Year, and then, only if an appropriate basis for negotiations can be established. If that's the case, then the DGA will commence formal talks in the hope that a fresh perspective and the additional pressure we can bring to bear will help force the AMPTP to settle the issues before us in a fair and reasonable manner."

Επίσης το WGA χτές ανακοίνωσε ότι υπέβαλλε μύνηση κατά του AMPTP στο National Labor Relations Board, με το αιτιολογικό ότι αρνείται να διαπραγματευτεί σε κλίμα καλής πίστης:

"Today the WGA filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board against the AMPTP for its refusal to bargain in good faith with the WGA. It is a clear violation of federal law for the AMPTP to issue an ultimatum and break off negotiations if we fail to cave to their illegal demands.

We are in the midst of the holiday season, with thousands of our members and the membership of other unions out of work. It is the height of irresponsibility and intransigence for the AMPTP to refuse to negotiate a fair agreement with the WGA. We reiterate our demand that the AMPTP immediately return to the negotiations, rather than going on vacation, so that this town can be put back to work.

The DGA announced today that it may commence negotiations with the AMPTP in January. The DGA has to do what is best for its membership, and we will do what is best for ours. We wish them well, but they do not represent writers. Our strike will end when the companies return to negotiations and make a fair deal with the WGA.

"Ιδού η απάντηση του AMPTP:

"The WGA's filing of a complaint with the NLRB reminds us of the old lawyers' adage: When the facts are on your side, argue the facts. When the law is on your side, argue the law. And when you don't have either the law or the facts on your side, you pound the table. The WGA has now been reduced to pounding the table, and this baseless, desperate NLRB complaint is just the latest indication that the WGA's negotiating strategy has achieved nothing for working writers."