State of the Unions

Writers, Studios Prepare for Life Post-Strike

Los Angeles Times  |  Feb 8, 08 10:15 AM CST

(Newser) - With negotiations wrapping up and striking screenwriters anticipating returning to work as soon as Monday, Hollywood execs are cautiously sussing out studios' post-strike prospects. "Everyone is motivated to get back to work as quickly as possible," one exec tells the LA Times —but he adds that  returning shows will be subject to “industrial Darwinism.” More »

Striking Writers Will Discuss New Deal

Variety  |  Feb 6, 08 6:50 PM CST

(Newser) - Leaders of the striking writers union will meet members Saturday on both coasts to brief them on a tentative contract that could settle their 3-month-old dispute, Variety reports. If, after the meetings in Los Angeles and New York, it appears the rank-and-file will accept it, the union can start the ratification process and may even allow members to return to work Monday. More »

Stars Hopeful About Strike Finale

Variety  |  Feb 5, 08 7:53 AM CST

(Newser) - Oscar nominees at the Academy Awards luncheon expressed hope for a settlement of the writers strike that will permit them to attend Hollywood's biggest night of the year, Variety reports. Actor George Clooney hailed an apparent weekend breakthrough in contract talks, and also called on the Screen Actors Guild to begin negotiating its contract in earnest. If the strike isn't settled in time, many stars are likely to skip the Oscars. More »

Scribes, Studios Close to Accord

New York Times  |  Feb 2, 08 7:13 PM CST

(Newser) - Hollywood writers and studios made a breakthrough in contract talks yesterday and may forge an agreement to end the 4-month-old writers strike next week, the New York Times reports. The sides agreed on tricky issues regarding Internet compensation, but still need to work out details and let the guild's 10,000 members vote on the agreement. More »

MoveOn, 2 Top Unions Tap Obama

New York Times  |  Feb 1, 08 5:09 PM CST

(Newser) - Barack Obama scored three major endorsements today, winning the support of the liberal activist group MoveOn and two influential unions that had backed John Edwards. MoveOn’s members voted for Obama over Hillary Clinton, 70.4% to 29.6%. The candidate crowed that the group has “demonstrated that real change comes not from the top down, but from the bottom up,” MSNBC reports. More »

Upshaw Unfazed by NFL's Pension Tension

ESPN  |  Feb 1, 08 4:45 PM CST

(Newser) - Robbing Peter to pay Paul is not the answer to the NFL's pension woes, at least not in Gene Upshaw's eyes. The NFL Players Association will not take from the pensions of current players to help former players, says the group's leader, who's at the center of a storm of controversy over the issue. "We have to solve it a different way and we will." More »

Leno's Secret: He's Beloved Boy Prince of Mediocrity

New York  |  Jan 31, 08 11:41 AM CST

(Newser) - Despite a dearth of guests willing to cross Writers Guild picket lines and near-scab status himself, late-night host Jay Leno has still managed to trounce rival David Letterman in ratings. Not that either is that funny, but Letterman at least returned with "a fetching gray beard, and the moral high ground"—so why couldn't he steal the show? asks New York 's Sam Anderson. More »

Writers Strike