Pattern of Demands

The Pattern of Demands (below) outlines WGA bargaining proposals for the upcoming Contract 2007 negotiations with the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) and major television networks.

Nearly 96% of participating members from the combined membership of the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) overwhelmingly approved the Pattern of Demands. A total of 3,176 members cast ballots, an increase of 32% over the last WGA negotiations in 2004. The guilds’ current Minimum Basic Agreement (MBA) expires on October 31, 2007. Negotiations with the Companies are scheduled to begin on July 16.

INITIAL COMPENSATION

• Address coverage and minimums for writing for the Internet and other non-traditional media, including minimums and program fees for Article 14 hyphenates.
• Increase initial compensation in all areas.
• Significantly increase the initial compensation for the CW.
• Provide that all MBA provisions apply to Appendix A and low budget dramatic programs made for basic cable.
• For daytime serials, further improve breakdown and sample script minimums; improve the less than one script per week waiver provisions.
• Modify the initial compensation provisions for quiz and audience participation programs.
• Enhance protections against late payment.

RESIDUALS

• Further address reuse on the Internet and other non-traditional media.
• Increase DVD and videocassette payments.
• For gross-based residuals, enhance and establish additional procedures to enforce appropriate arm’s length equivalent standards.
• Increase funding for MBA compliance programs.
• Increase television residuals for the CW and MyNetwork TV, and made for pay and basic cable; reduce thresholds for foreign residuals; improve and expand residuals on sequel payments.
• Require companies to provide information regarding literary material used for and characters appearing in interactive programs.

JURISDICTION

• Expand WGA coverage of reality programs.
• Expand WGA coverage in animation.
• Adopt fair procedures for union recognition.

PENSION PLAN AND HEALTH FUND

• Raise certain caps on company contributions to the Pension Plan and Health Fund.

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND PROTECTIONS IN THE EMPLOYMENT OF WRITERS

• Address product integration.
• Substantially increase upset price.
• Provide that company shall offer a writer with separated rights in a theatrical film or television program the first opportunity to write the interactive game based on that film or program.
• Increase funding for the Showrunner Training Program.
• For grievance and arbitration, expand arbitrator lists; increase jurisdictional maximums.
• Modify requirements of worklists submitted by companies.
• Clarify that merchandising provisions apply to “ringtones” based on MBAcovered material.
• Establish minimums for certain ancillary uses of comedy-variety material.