process of negotiating

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Process of Negotiating the WGA Minimum Basic Agreement

Before Negotiations

Negotiating Committee: The WGAW Board (Board) and the WGAE Council (Council) appoint a seventeen person Negotiating Committee comprised of fourteen members from the west and three members from the east. (2007 Negotiating Committee)

Pattern of Demands: Based on input from members and elected leadership, the Negotiating Committee will draft a Pattern of Demands: the WGA statement of intent outlining specific subjects for negotiations. The Pattern of Demands must be ratified by a majority of the combined votes of WGAW and WGAE current members in good standing.

Contract Proposals: Specific opening proposals based on the Pattern of Demands will be prepared prior to the first negotiating session.

Negotiating the Contract

Negotiating Parties: Contract negotiations, which can last from weeks to months, take place between the WGA Negotiating Committee (led by WGAW Executive Director, David Young as Chief Negotiator) and the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) for the Companies. (First session is scheduled to begin July 16, 2007)

Proposals and Process: The WGA and the Companies begin with opening proposals for changes in the MBA. Some proposals are rejected outright and some lead to counter-proposals. After much discussion and debate, the Guild and the Companies usually hold firm on some proposals, revise others and withdraw yet other proposals.

Voting on Tentative Agreement or Company Offer: Successful contract negotiations end with a tentative contract agreement, usually containing terms that both sides feel are the best they can achieve under the circumstances. If an agreement can't be reached, the Company might make a “last, best and final offer.” In either case, the Negotiating Committee would present the tentative agreement or last offer to the Board and Council for action. The Board and Council would then decide on the next step-whether to conduct a ratification vote by the membership or to pursue some other strategy.

Ratification: It requires a majority of the combined votes of WGAW and WGAE current members in good standing to ratify (accept) a new MBA. If the contract is accepted, conditions of the new MBA will go into effect until the next expiration date.

Rejection: If the proposed contract is rejected by the membership, the Negotiating Committee can return to the bargaining table to ask for improvements, and/or the Board and Council can call for a strike vote. A strike can commence only if authorized by a majority of the combined votes of WGAW and WGAE current members in good standing.