Finally, The Music Industry Has A Reason To Smile: Writer’s Guild Will Not Picket Grammys

In an e-mail sent to members of the Writer’s Guild of America yesterday, union presidents Patric Verrone and Michael Winship said that the plans to picket the Grammys on Feb. 10 were off the table, thanks to members of the American Federation of Musicians being in solidarity with the guild over issues of “compensation in new media.” Now Beyonce can feel less bad about her dad opening his mouth and yapping about her being proud to possibly cross a Screen Actor’s Guild picket line! (By the way, did anyone see the ads for the Grammys during Sunday’s football game that featured Carrie Underwood?) Full memo after the jump.

To Our Fellow Members,

We have responded favorably to the invitation from the AMPTP to enter into informal talks that will help establish a reasonable basis for returning to negotiations. During this period, we have agreed to a complete news blackout. We are grateful for this opportunity to engage in meaningful discussion with industry leaders that we hope will lead to a contract. We ask that all members exercise restraint in their public statements during this critical period.

In order to make absolutely clear our commitment to bringing a speedy conclusion to negotiations, we have decided to withdraw our proposals on reality and animation. Our organizing efforts to achieve Guild representation in these genres for writers will continue. You will hear more about this in the next two weeks.

On another issue, the Writers Guild, West Board of Directors has voted not to picket the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Members of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) face many of the same issues concerning compensation in new media that we do. In the interest of advancing our goal of achieving a fair contract, the WGAW Board felt that this gesture should be made on behalf our brothers and sisters in AFM and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA).

Best,

Patric M. Verrone President, WGAW

Michael Winship President, WGAE

WGA Takes Reality And Animation Off The Table, Won’t Picket Grammys [Defamer] [Photo: AP]