1960 Writers Guild of America strike
Encyclopedia
The 1960 Writers Guild of America strike was the second longest writers strike in history. It lasted , and just one week less than the 1988 writers strike
. The strike against the producers lasted from January 16, 1960 until June 10, 1960 (agreement reached June 10, but not signed until June 12). The strike against the networks began on March 19. Negotiations were between the Writers Guild of America, west
, the Writers Guild of America, East
, and the Association of Motion Picture Producers
.
For a time, the actors were on strike at the same time, but they had returned to work before the writers reached a compromise with the movie companies.
The conflict was about writer's right to receive a share of revenue of the studios from the lease or sale of movies to television.
Seven of the eight major studios struck a deal: Allied Artists, Columbia
, MGM
, Paramount
, Twentieth-Century Fox
, Walt Disney
, and Warner Bros.
The eighth, Universal International
, had reached an agreement before the strike broke out. The settlement included having the studios pay into the writers' pension and health funds in the amount of $600,000. They also agreed to give 5% of the studio's income from movies pre-1960 which were on television. On post-1960 movies, writers got 2% of income. If the film was shown on pay-tv, they would not receive additional income. The minimum rates were also increased to $350 a week and writers would get a 10% raise for the first two years and then 5% for the next year and a half.
For television writers, minimum wages increased 100 percent for the first two years and 100 for the next two. Writers for low-budget half hour shows would get $935 instead of $850. High budget writers would get $1,200 instead of $1,100. Writers would get a 4% royalty domestically and internationally on all reruns "in perpetuity". In the past, writers were paid on only the first five domestic reruns (they got 140% of their minimum pay scale for that). They also agreed to create a health and welfare fund.
1988 Writers Guild of America strike
The 1988 Writers Guild of America strike was a strike action taken by members of both the Writers Guild of America, East and the Writers Guild of America, West against major United States television and film studios represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers...
. The strike against the producers lasted from January 16, 1960 until June 10, 1960 (agreement reached June 10, but not signed until June 12). The strike against the networks began on March 19. Negotiations were between the Writers Guild of America, west
Writers Guild of America, west
Writers Guild of America, West is a labor union representing film, television, radio, and new media writers. The Guild was formed in 1954 from five organizations representing writers, which include the Screen Writers Guild...
, the Writers Guild of America, East
Writers Guild of America, East
Writers Guild of America, East is a labor union representing writers of television and film and employees of television and radio news. The 2006 membership of the guild was 3,770....
, and the Association of Motion Picture Producers
Motion Picture Association of America
The Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. , originally the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America , was founded in 1922 and is designed to advance the business interests of its members...
.
For a time, the actors were on strike at the same time, but they had returned to work before the writers reached a compromise with the movie companies.
The conflict was about writer's right to receive a share of revenue of the studios from the lease or sale of movies to television.
Seven of the eight major studios struck a deal: Allied Artists, Columbia
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
, MGM
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
, Paramount
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
, Twentieth-Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
, Walt Disney
Walt Disney Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures is an American film studio owned by The Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Pictures and Television, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Studios and the main production company for live-action feature films within the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, based at the Walt Disney...
, and Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
The eighth, Universal International
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
, had reached an agreement before the strike broke out. The settlement included having the studios pay into the writers' pension and health funds in the amount of $600,000. They also agreed to give 5% of the studio's income from movies pre-1960 which were on television. On post-1960 movies, writers got 2% of income. If the film was shown on pay-tv, they would not receive additional income. The minimum rates were also increased to $350 a week and writers would get a 10% raise for the first two years and then 5% for the next year and a half.
For television writers, minimum wages increased 100 percent for the first two years and 100 for the next two. Writers for low-budget half hour shows would get $935 instead of $850. High budget writers would get $1,200 instead of $1,100. Writers would get a 4% royalty domestically and internationally on all reruns "in perpetuity". In the past, writers were paid on only the first five domestic reruns (they got 140% of their minimum pay scale for that). They also agreed to create a health and welfare fund.
See also
- Writers Guild of America, EastWriters Guild of America, EastWriters Guild of America, East is a labor union representing writers of television and film and employees of television and radio news. The 2006 membership of the guild was 3,770....
(WGAE) - Writers Guild of America, WestWriters Guild of America, westWriters Guild of America, West is a labor union representing film, television, radio, and new media writers. The Guild was formed in 1954 from five organizations representing writers, which include the Screen Writers Guild...
(WGAW) - Writers Guild of America AwardWriters Guild of America AwardThe Writers Guild of America Award for outstanding achievements in film, television, and radio has been presented annually by the Writers Guild of America, East and Writers Guild of America, West since 1949...
- 1988 Writers Guild of America strike1988 Writers Guild of America strikeThe 1988 Writers Guild of America strike was a strike action taken by members of both the Writers Guild of America, East and the Writers Guild of America, West against major United States television and film studios represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers...
- 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strikeThe 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike, more commonly referred to as simply the Writers' Strike, was a strike by the Writers Guild of America, East and the Writers Guild of America, West ....
- List of Hollywood strikes
- International Affiliation of Writers GuildsInternational Affiliation of Writers GuildsThe International Affiliation of Writers Guilds is an international trade union federation representing guilds of professional screenwriters and playwrights. Some affiliates also belong to national trade union federations....