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Well, it's upon us and I have a feeling it could get REALLY ugly. This is the first walkout of any kind in Hollywood from the Writers, Actors or Directors since 1988 and that strike lasted 5 months. Here's my call on the situation - NOTHING happens for at least the next two months. This month will all be about posturing andd taking as hard-line stances as possible and then there's the Thanksgiving break, from which everyone will come back and two weeks later... everyone will leave AGAIN for TWO MORE WEEKS.
Thus, I see nothing getting done until after New Year's. At that point, it will be two months and most shows will have run out of scripts to shoot, not to mention they will start running thin on what they can put on the air. Only at that point will we see any movement on either side. Then, if nothing happens quickly, I forsee relative Armaggedon as the Producers see a looming Actors/Directors strike coming in June and start to weigh the benefits of even getting a deal done with the Writer's if there's the possibility that by the time they do, they still won't be able to get accomplished what they want with two more strikes on the horizon. If that happens, it's gonna be a complete and utter disaster.
So, folks enjoy your shows now, while they're on because they may not be on for long and let's all hope the negotiators for both sides realize that NO ONE wins in these type of things and hopefully they can get this whole crap finished sooner rather than later.
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Shutdown looms over Broadway
Producers, stagehands at impasse
By GORDON COXBroadway shows continued to perform Wednesday even as the Rialto teetered on the verge of a shutdown, with contract talks between producers and the stagehands union in a deep-freeze impasse.
The League of American Theaters and Producers publicly rejected on Wednesday the last, best offer laid on the table Tuesday night by the union, Local One.
Producers, indicating they remain open to a "serious response" from the union, gave no indication of any potential timeline for a management-initiated lockout of Local One that would darken the majority of Broadway shows.
The lockout remains the most urgent possibility since a strike could not occur before a special meeting of union membership is held to vote on approving the labor action -- a vote that would be followed by a request for strike authorization from the international leadership of umbrella union IATSE. Local One has planned a Saturday meeting for its New York members, but this session is not designated a strike vote, according to a rep.
Some in the industry have begun to hear whispers that IATSE international prexy Thomas C. Short has privately told Broadway theater owners that he would not authorize a strike should the local, headed by James J. Claffey Jr., request it.
Both the international and the local office had no comment, but the rumors seemed plausible thanks to long-standing (and far from secret) friction between the local and international leadership of the stagehands union. During the 2003 Broadway musicians strike, Short reportedly assured producers that Local One would not honor the musicians' picket lines -- but union members did so anyway.
If the current chatter is true, the move could seriously undermine the local's bargaining power with producers. One theory holds that producers will forgo a lockout, instead simply refusing to budge on contract terms because they know the local will not be authorized to strike.
Neither side, however, would acknowledge such talk on the record.
In rejecting the union's final offer, league exec director Charlotte St. Martin said in a statement, "The union's proposal insists on retaining egregious contract features."
She pointed specifically to the offer's requirement of a flyman on all productions, even on shows with no fly cues. League estimated an unnecessary fly operator would cost producers more than $160,000 a year.
Local One, for its part, refused to discuss specific negotiation points in the press. The union's last, best offer was issued late Tuesday night in response to the final offer the producers had laid out earlier that evening.
Tuesday's showdown came after the League and Local One had been locked in contentious contract renegotiations for several weeks.
The central sticking points are work rules governing the number of stagehands whom producers are contractually required to employ, particularly for the process of installing a physical production into a Broadway theater.
Producers want to achieve flexibility in rules they consider outmoded and indefensibly expensive, while stagehands contend that such obligations are protections of their livelihood that they will not give up without an equal exchange.
Stagehands have been working without a contract since the previous agreement expired at the end of July.
I have plenty of other things to occupy my time. I think alot of Americans do too, so best of luck to whoever is involved and striking. I'm pretty sure I'll survive.
__________________ "Imma Cards fan, not a realist fan.." - Gee!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shane H
TV ruined this country. We'l be fine without it for a few months.
I have found that when I am too busy to watch TV I don't miss it and sometimes my wife complains that we have to much recorded and need to watch some to keep it from erasing random stuff. Lately I have been telling her to watch it by herself and erase it.
I wonder if something similar will happen if everything turns to reruns. Will people get out of the habit of watching TV?
I only have 2 shows I watch; Heroes & How I Met Your Mother. They're both on Monday night. Other than being bummed my Monday night ritual will be dumped, this really won't affect me much.
My parents, who LIVE in front of the TV (I think they'd rather watch tv than talk to each other) will be in for a world of hurt, unless they can just watch reruns & be happy...which they probably will.
Yeah, I only really watch Heroes and Lost. If I miss other stuff, it's not a major catastrophy. I guess I really only use it for background noise.
How about the Amazing Race, which is starting Sunday? I am guessing/hoping the season is already done since it's a reality show. Am I wrong?
According to EW, reality shows will not be affected since they are not wirtten and we will see more reality shows like "Farmer Wants a Wife" on the CW. I kid you not about that title.
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Oh well, I guess I could re-watch X-Files or Friends during this time.
And YAY project runway!
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