Source: Em Fitzgerald
UK Creative Industries’ Union Bectu added, that “this news provides some hope after months of instabilities”. WGGB told its members in May that it would not be working on US projects while the WGA was on strike. It also warned UK writers they could be barred from the WGA if they worked on US shows. WGGB has supported the WGA’s actions and has stood “shoulder to shoulders” with its US counterpart. WGGB chair Lisa Holdsworth issued a statement saying: “We congratulate our sister union in America on reaching a tentative deal with the AMPTP.
We’ve seen a remarkable show of solidarity between writers and their union brothers on both sides of Atlantic and around the world in the past 146-days. We have been overwhelmed by our members’ support for their striking colleagues on the other side of the Atlantic and around the world. They have adhered to the WGA strike rules, attended the WGGB protests in London during the summer, and sent a wave of support via social media. Some of you even joined pickets in the States. Your solidarity has counted and your voice has been heard – both by the Writers Guild of America and their members but also by the streamers, studios and producers who have witnessed this global display of collective action and have – finally – listened.
“We are also aware of the acute impact the strike is having on the UK creative industries, on our own members and members of our sister entertainment unions, too, so we look forward to a speedy resolution to both this strike and that of SAG-AFTRA, to whom we continue to send our solidarity.
“We look forward to the details of the WGA deal and its implications for UK writers. All writers working for streaming platforms must enjoy decent terms and conditions and the best way to achieve these is through union agreements – our work here will continue.”
Philippa Childs, head of UK film and TV union Bectu, added: “This is welcome news for our members and the UK film and TV industry as a whole. UK crew and other workers have suffered at the hands of the AMPTP’s failure to reach an acceptable agreement with WGA and SAG-AFTRA, and this news will provide some hope after months of instability.
“It’s now critical that the AMPTP directs all its energies into resolving the dispute with our SAG-AFTRA colleagues.
“The AMPTP cannot be ignorant of the huge and detrimental impact their disputes are having on our industry. These negotiations have affected the livelihoods of hardworking crew members and other workers. They will be closely monitoring developments. We urge a successful and swift conclusion that will bring film and TV production back to normal in the UK.”
