Writers Vote To End Strike

At 7:03 p.m. Pacific time, the writers guild sent out the announcement that, per an overwhelming majority of the 3, 775 voters from both coasts, the writers have chosen to end the 100-day strike.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 12, 2008

Writers Guild Members Vote to End Strike

LOS ANGELES and NEW YORK - The membership of the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) today voted overwhelmingly in favor of lifting the restraining order and ending their 100-day strike that began on Nov. 5. 3,775 writers turned out in Los Angeles and New York to cast ballots or fax in proxies, with 92.5% voting in favor of ending the work stoppage.

"The strike is over. Our membership has voted, and writers can go back to work," said Patric M. Verrone, president of the Writers Guild of America, West. "This was not a strike we wanted, but one we had to conduct in order to win jurisdiction and establish appropriate residuals for writing in new media and on the Internet. Those advances now give us a foothold in the digital age. Rather than being shut out of the future of content creation and delivery, writers will lead the way as TV migrates to the Internet and platforms for new media are developed."

"The success of this strike is a significant achievement not only for ourselves but the entire creative community, now and in the future," said Michael Winship, president of the Writers Guild of America, East. "The commitment and solidarity of our members made it happen and have been an inspiration not only to us but the entire organized labor movement. We will build on that energy and unity to make our two unions stronger than ever."

WGAW and WGAE members will next vote to ratify the tentative three-year contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The membership ratification vote will be conducted by mail and also at membership meetings on February 25, 2008.

Minutes later, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers sent out their own statement, and with deceptive simplicity and good will--given the gulf and animosity that at times existed between the adversaries--Hollywood was back to work.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 12, 2008

JOINT STATEMENT

This is a day of relief and optimism for everyone in the entertainment industry.
We can now all get back to work, with the assurance that we have concluded two
groundbreaking labor agreements - with our directors and our writers -- that
establish a partnership through which our business can grow and prosper in the
new digital age. The strike has been extraordinarily difficult for all of us,
but the hardest hit of all have been the many thousands of businesses, workers
and families that are economically dependent on our industry. We hope now to
focus our collective efforts on what this industry does best - writers,
directors, actors, production crews, and entertainment companies working
together to deliver great content to our worldwide audiences.

Peter Chernin, Chairman and CEO, the Fox Group
Brad Grey, Chairman & CEO, Paramount Pictures Corp.
Robert A. Iger, President & CEO, The Walt Disney Company
Michael Lynton, Chairman & CEO, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Barry M. Meyer, Chairman & CEO, Warner Bros.
Leslie Moonves, President & CEO, CBS Corp.
Harry Sloan, Chairman & CEO, MGM
Jeff Zucker, President & CEO, NBC Universal

(Patric Verrone leaves the stage of the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hils after announcing the vote to end the three-month strike; photo by Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images)