There are a few basic rules that hold true, no matter what the situation may be. Never go in against a Sicilian, especially when death is on the line, and never cross a picket line.
While the former may merely be the result of a gifted screenwriter's imagination, the latter can actually have severe consequences. One week into the Writers Guild of America strike, reports of the first strikebreakers (derogatorily called "scabs") are starting to surface.
Some WGA-card-carrying scribes for daytime soap operas have resumed work, says Variety, opting to risk being blacklisted and shunned by the union in exchange for a paycheck. Citing anonymous sources, the trade says that a "high-ranking writer-producer" on The Young and the Restless has let the WGA know that he or she is returning to work. In doing so, the writer is giving up full guild membership privileges.
Another source claims that two more writers on the show are also breaking the picket line, with others seriously considering following suit (including one from Days of Our Lives). Another source says other soap writers are "working in the shadows."
It's yet to be determined what sort of actions the WGA will take against the writers who continue to work, but Variety thinks the union will act to "publicly embarrass" them because there is so much on the line. The idea is that humiliating strikebreakers will prevent others from returning to work and undermining the strike.
There are yet to be any reports of prime-time or late-night writers crossing the picket line.
For more on the writers strike, check out TV.com's Strike Source, featuring up-to-date statuses on shows, the latest information, and more.
Writers are allowed to work.. If they are NOT part of the WGA.By joining the union, you accept there actions.There is nothing strange about this.By not following the rules he has signed up to follow, he should get a punishment for this.Is it fair that he don't strike and still get the pay WGA by this strike gives him right to?
It's the studios that are firing people :evil: they are firing a lot of shows' staff for no reason. Yes it's unfortunate that a lot of other people who work on these shows aren't working, but that shouldn't stop the writers from striking to get what they deserve.Peer pressure politics? What are you talking about? The strike will help all writers get what they deserve.
_Sam_: The majority was in favor of striking yes, but the number was inflated because of peer pressure politics. You also have to take into account that at any given time a large portion of the WGA is not actively working(or are working in a capacity that the strike would not affect them, such as writing scripts to market on personal time), and so would vote for it by default because it does not affect them negatively. Then you throw in the people who are just plain mislead or lied to... and bam. There's the majority.
Though yes, there is a strike fund to support writers. But writers alone. While it is impossible to say their motive, ultimately these writers who are crossing lines are saving the jobs of hundreds of people working on these programs.moreless
Before the strike the WGA sent out a ballet to all members asking if the writers would give them permission to strike. I forgot the numbers, but the majority was in <b>favor</b> of striking. and they ARE helping the writers who are in financial troubles.
If people want to work, they should be allowed without reprisals - period.
Unions are not much different than the Mafia. If you dont tow the line, there will be reprisals. Besides, there are little if any residuals for soap opera since they dont repeat much (except on that new Soap Channel, but who watches old soap opera episodes?)
did no-one else see the irony in someone called "soapieaddict23" knocking soap operas?
joking aside I think if people want to work they should be able to. That is one of the things that I dislike unions. Of course I see why the union would want to do it, but I also see why the writer would want to work. oh I could write an essay on unions but I'll just leave it at that.
soap operas had WRITERS???? wow could have fooled me. I thought they just turned the cameras on and said "wing it".
My understanding was that unions are supposed to provide financial support to those who need it during a strike. That's part of what dues are for. I don't know if that is happening in this case, but if a strike is run properly, there shouldn't be a reason for writers to go hungry this early into it.
i say good for you if you want to work you should be able too
I believe there should be a choice on whether you should strike or not, without it effecting your membership in anyway. Forcing other members to strike when they need to make money to live seems childish. I would be very pissed if I got blacklisted because I needed to make money.
I dont believe anyone should strike unless they want to and never have to pickit by command of their union,however the strike itself is very much in the writers favour because eventually they will all benefit from the increased residuals ...even those choosing to break the strike
While Unions are good for somethings, they are bad for other things. If these people have families w/ people that need food, then I can understand why they are doing it? Yes, striking to get better paid is good and it looks good in the long run, but the paid sucks! But, when you got bills that need to be paid and people that need food you will do anything for money.
While I detest soaps, I am now in love with these writers simply for the sake of principal. Being forced to fold to a union's demands(and in many fields the requirement to join them to begin with) is utterly ridiculous and goes against basic human free will, not to mention basic American style Freedom.
Ah, how I wish I could have lived in the glory days of the Pinkertons and the fun of charging into a picket line with batons raised.
Kateinabox, it's not that i'm a serious Y&R fan, I don't even watch soaps everyday. It's just that simpily doesn't happen on soaps, except Passions. Passions is the exception. The storylines aren't anymore far-fetched then any other televison show. There's no identical twins, deforminites (that are ridicoulous), dramatic music and murder are just not used in soaps anymore. And I feel like no matter what quality the cast and crew put for Soaps they'll never live down the cliches, and never repair the 'dumb housewife' viewer sterotype that follows. that's all.
Are you serious? Writing quality plot lines? It's a daytime soap! the only reason they are crossing the picket line is because they won't get any more money because people wouldn't buy an episode of that garbage online. The only reason i rarely watch daytime soaps is for a laugh.
Good on them. At the end of the day, if it's what they want to do then being shunned by the rest of the union shouldn't even be an issue.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOThis is wrong, sure maybe they need to money, but alot of people are working very hard to get better conditions for these writers.Why risk it, if you are caught you will regret it
good, if someone wants to work, they should be allowed to. bunch of babies
oh come on. it's funny and makes fun of the universal truth that daytime soaps can get a little twisted in the story line dept. You need to have a sense of humor about what you like! I think every show ever produced makes fun of Soaps for the same reason. TV.com didn't say it wasn't a good show. So yeh... simmer down!
...its a TV show...
But they shouldn't be crossing the picket. No matter what. Not after a week... 10wks...maybe... not 7days!!!
I don't think that's fair that you have to just fold to the Union's actions, or else. I'm sure this writer-producer has his/her reasons for doing so. I can't really side one way or another, without knowing the reason for returning to work. And tv.com, what's with the picture caption "The one-eyed, pregnant, evil twin storyline doesn't just write itself, you know."??? How insulting to your faithful contributors who specialize in soap operas by subcumming to tired, untrue cliches. That's insulting to both the writers who work hard writing quality plot lines and the fan's intelligence who follow them, many of whom contribute and visit this site, helping keep it profitable and afloat. Don't bite the hand that feeds you, tv.com. Or we may agree and decide were simpily too dumb for this site.moreless