Teamsters Support the Writers Guild in Fight for Fair Contract

Teamsters Support the Writers Guild in Fight for Fair Contract

Official Statement of Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is an official statement of Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa:

Thousands of members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) find their livelihoods being threatened by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers' (AMPTP) refusal to bargain in good faith. Though they are the fuel that keeps the multibillion dollar motion picture and television industry driving, writers continue to be denied a fair agreement by studio executives.

If we abandon our union brothers and sisters now, we abandon the very core principals of trade unionism. I encourage the members of WGA to stand strong and fight for what you believe is right and fair. The Teamsters support your cause.

Without the content these proud union members provide, the television and motion picture industry would come to a grinding halt. Hundreds of people play a role in the creation of a successful product in this industry. However, the genesis of any production comes directly from the talented minds of these writers.

The Teamsters Union has more than 4,000 members at Local 399 in Hollywood, California that work in the motion picture and television industry and understand that the writers' fight is their fight. I applaud Secretary-Treasurer Leo Reed's public support of our 12,000 brothers and sisters in the WGA. If the membership of the WGA is forced to strike, our union stands ready to support them in any way we can.

While our members are contractually bound to continue to work active productions if the WGA does go out on strike, each and every Local 399 Teamster has the right to honor any picket line if it is raised at their place of employment without fear of reprisal from the studios. If there is one thing that can be said about the 1.4 million Teamsters across this country, it is that our union is one that believes in strength through solidarity.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters

CONTACT: Galen Munroe of International Brotherhood of Teamsters,
+1-202-624-6911, gmunroe@teamster.org

Web Site: http://www.teamster.org/

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Profile: International Entertainment