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Meredith Stemm has been re-elected president of the WGA West, defeating Rich Tallarico in a landslide.
A total of 3,783 valid ballots were cast, with Stiehm receiving 3,354 votes to Talarico’s 300. Stiehm’s colleagues were also easily elected. Michelle Mulroney, a member of the union’s bargaining committee, was re-elected as vice president, and Betsy Thomas was re-elected as vice president. Treasurer’s Secretary. Mulroney beat Isaac Gomez, who currently serves as offensive commander, by 3,235 votes to 4.11. Thomas defeated Jeffrey Thompson 3182 to 421.
STEAM’s re-election, which was in effect a referendum on the union’s ongoing strike, comes the day before the Writers Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers resume negotiations to reach a deal that, if successful, will end the WGA strike. The strike has entered its 141st day
RELATED: WGA West President Meredith Stem Says ‘Fair Deal’ For Writers, Actors Who ‘Share The Wealth’ Is Only Way To End Ongoing Strikes
If a deal is not reached within eight days, the strike will become the second-longest strike in the union’s history and, at two weeks, the longest. The 1960 WGA strike lasted 148 days, and the 1988 strike lasted 154 days. The ongoing strike is 41 days longer than the union’s last strike, which in 2007-08 lasted 100 days. Meanwhile, SAG-AFTRA has been on strike since July 14.
Stemm’s re-election, and the election later this week of Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, who is running unopposed to be the next president of WGA East, will mark a historic first for the presidents of WGA West, WGA East, the Directors Guild and SAG to participate. -AFTRA are all women. However, the CEOs of each union were always men.
In her official candidate statement, posted on the union’s election page on July 25, Stem — whose writing and producing credits include homeland, er And Old issue He wrote: “We are in a big moment. As the union leader told me on May 2, 2023: “You are now a wartime boss.” I don’t take that lightly. A strike is a dangerous and heavy matter. As of the time of writing, July 25, the matter is still ongoing.”
“I got here largely because of another war, of sorts — I was one of the leaders of the agency campaign in 2018,” wrote Stem, who was one of the plaintiffs named in the WGA lawsuit that reshaped the talent agency business. Long and arduous, we were told over and over that our goals were “impossible.” But they weren’t. We succeeded, and now we’re true partners with our agents, just as we will be partners again with studios, when this one hits. What I learned from that experience: The things Impossible until it isn’t.
“I know this moment can seem impossible sometimes, too,” she added. It’s been a long, hot summer. But I see a solution. I know we are on the right path, and this leads to a stronger place. “And we succeed.”
She then listed the reasons for the success of the WGA in its ongoing strike.
“We succeed because writers show up every day — on picket lines, at marches, online, and for each other. Because leaders and batch coordinators run their operations with efficiency and cheerful grace. Because members dream up new topics, meet new friends, keep the faith and encourage each other.” Some daily.
“We succeed because of our administrators and board — they are committed, courageous, and do their best at every turn. Because the negotiating committee is a killer lineup of smart, thoughtful leaders who deeply understand and care about the dire situation that writers are in.”
“We are succeeding because of the amazing staff at the union. They run the picket lines, marches, and communications with a calm, can-do efficiency. They marched 4,000 people through the streets of Los Angeles and made it look easy. They were born for this job.”
“We are succeeding because of our chief supernova negotiator, Ellen Stutzman, and because of the two members who are heading this effort — the secretly ‘nice’ guys who are very tough, and co-chairs Chris Keyser and David Goodman.
“And we succeed because we are allied with other Hollywood unions. We are friends and allies with the leaders of SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, LIUNA, AFM, DGA, and of course the Badass Teamsters. Partnering with our sister unions has been a game changer. These alliances are so strong, the solidarity Contagious. If you were at the shrine on May 3, you know. Business is picking up.
“We all feel the power of it, and so do companies. They see you from the Netflix windows in your blue T-shirts. They know they can’t do the business without you.
“Now that two strikes have begun, the only way for the studios to bounce back is to make a fair deal for writers and actors — an agreement that shares the wealth with the people who make them,” she wrote.
“When the strike ends, we will build on our good relations with our sister unions. We will help them when they need it, as they did with us. We will restore our relationship with companies, and move forward with the work we all love to do.”
“I ran for president two years ago because I believe that ‘impossible’ things are possible. The 2023 MBA will be the next example of that. I believe in shooting high, speaking truth to power, and toeing the line when necessary. I am guided by justice and principle, and if it comes to “By fighting for a just cause, I don’t eat. Or as my husband says: ‘Stubborn as shit.'”
Talarico, a Peabody Award winner and four-time Emmy-nominated writer and producer, is perhaps best known for his work on the Comedy Central series. key and bell, He was selected by the union’s nominating committee to run against Stiehm. Tallarico, who has fought for years against a contract provision that allows the “continuous and persistent abuse” of five-minute promotional clips from television shows, said in a campaign statement that the abuse of such clips “is significantly detrimental to writers’ potential compensation.”
on Key and Bell“We rack up billions of views on promoted snippets while receiving checks for pennies on the dollar in compensation, because this ‘promotion’ actually stifles compensable platforms,” he wrote. “Where the director offers chicken on a toothpick to entice a purchase,” he wrote, comparing these trailers to a visit to Panda Express, “studios should avoid bombarding potential customers with endless free samples without paying the writers. Such practices prevent viewers from paying for the full menu.” Although the Minimum Minimum Agreement did not mention the number of downloads allowed, the contract language could not have intended this endless oversaturation of unpaid “promotional” clips for writers. Writers are set to create TV shows, not endless Internet shows masquerading In the form of a “promotion”.
In the election of eight board members, incumbent Adam Conover was the top vote-getter (2,667), followed by incumbents Nicole Yorkin (2,511), Daylin Rodriguez (2,342), Zoe Marshall (2,328) and Dante W. Harper (2,084). Newly elected board members are Molly Nussbaum (1551), Scott Alexander (1464) and Rob Foreman (1285).
Every incumbent won re-election, including three officers and five board members.