The Writers Guild of America Thursday gave union leaders the right to call a strike anytime after October 31, when the guild’s three-year contract expires. The union has been in talks since July with film studios and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (representing various production companies), but no progress has been made. The apparent sticking point is compensation for DVD and new media sales.
More than 5,000 members voted, with 90% in favor of authorization, the union said last night. The WGA and the Alliance both said they remain committed to reaching an agreement. The last time there was a strike (in 1988), it lasted 22 weeks and cost the industry $500 million.
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