DGA Members Approve Work Return
Introduction
The Directors Guild of America (DGA) recently informed its members of their rights and responsibilities in the event of a writers’ strike against the studios. The DGA issued a statement on what would be their members’ conditions if the threatened Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike is called off. The strike authorization vote does not necessarily mean that there will be a strike; it gives the WGA leadership the authority to call a strike on or after their contract expiration date.
What Is Expected Of A DGA Member?
Like most collective bargaining agreements, the DGA Basic Agreement contains a “no strike clause.”The clause provides that during the term, the Guild will not call or engage in any strike, slow-down, or stoppage of work affecting motion picture production against the employer.
Duty To Continue Work
The members have a duty to keep on working in the event of a strike by another union. As per the DGA, “should a WGA strike occur, regardless of the status of studio negotiations, Directors Guild of America members will continue in their DGA-covered functions unless the DGA notifies them otherwise.”
Employer’s Rights To Replace A Member
As an individual, a DGA member has the right to refuse to cross a picket line and perform their covered services. However, an employer has the right to replace them, and if they have a personal services agreement, they may be subject to claims for breach of contract.
How Is The Strike Affecting The Film Industry?
The unpredictability of a WGA strike has affected the film industry. The effect would be widespread, with TV productions and feature films also being impacted negatively. The impact would ripple across the industry and directly affect the lives and livelihoods of people working on a project, making them vulnerable to losing wages, jobs, and projects.
Backdrop Of The Strike
This action comes after months of heated negotiations between the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). The WGA had rejected the latest offer of the AMPTP, which included a proposal for a one-time 2% increase upon ratification of the new agreement, a 2% increase in the third, and fourth years, increased contribution to the AFM-PTE Health Plan by $9 million over the life of the agreement, and a guaranteed term of agreement to May 1, 2023.
Impacts On Movie Production Finance
A strike would have severe implications for the film industry financially. A repeat of the WGA strike could threaten to cost the production business upwards of $2 billion in revenue.
The DGA Member Vote Results
The DGA members are reported to have voted 98% in favor of ratifying a new collective bargaining agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. This ratification officially assures the return of to work for members of the DGA as the talks with the AMPTP were concluded on November 6, 2021.
The Significance Of The Agreement
The new collective bargaining agreement with the AMPTP would establish new compensation rates, skills, and training plans for a fast-changing industry, among other agreements.
Benefits For Members
Members also stand to gain significant wage increases, increased pensions and meal allowances, improved conditions for live TV shows, and structural improvements to the matching programs for members of the Assistant Directors Training Program and the Coordinators Training Program for Diversity.
Conclusion
The new collective bargaining agreement between the Directors Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers has been approved by the DGA members, who have shown enthusiasm for returning to work, bearing in mind the unpredictability of the negotiations. The agreement guarantees that members of the DGA can continue working in their DGA-covered positions, regardless of the status of studio negotiations, unless a notification is sent otherwise.
FAQs
1. What is the Directors Guild of America?
The Directors Guild of America is a national labor organization that represents more than 18,000 directors, assistant directors, associate directors, stage managers, and production associates in the United States.
2. What is the WGA?
The Writers Guild of America is a labor union representing over 20,000 writers in the film, television, and broadcast industry.
3. Is this the first time the DGA has faced a WGA strike?
No, the DGA also faced a WGA strike in 2017.
4. What would a strike mean for the film industry?
A strike could threaten to cost the production business upwards of $2 billion in revenue.
5. What are the implications of the new collective bargaining agreement?
The new CBA would establish new compensation rates, skills, and training plans for a fast-changing industry, among other agreements.