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AFTRA Members Ratify Network Code Extension

2010-07-14T02:33:00Z

The AFTRA Network Code covers programming in all television day parts, except for primetime dramatic programs on the networks and the CW. It includes dramas in first-run syndication, morning news shows, talk shows, serials (soap operas), variety, reality, contest and sports.

The significant financial terms of the extension include:

Length of Extension – One year, from November 16, 2010, through November 15, 2011.
Program Fees – Increase program fees by two (2%) per cent effective November 16, 2010, including daytime dramas and background actor rates.
AFTRA H&R – Increase the contribution rate to the AFTRA H&R Funds by 0.5% effective January 1, 2011. This will bring the total H&R contribution (including AICF) from 15.1% to 15.6%. The additional percentage will be dedicated to the AFTRA Retirement Fund.

Terms for scripted network primetime programming are covered by Exhibit A of the AFTRA Network Code and will be negotiated separately with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers in joint negotiations with Screen Actors Guild scheduled to begin on Sept. 27, 2010.

AFTRA noted that this extension will clear their negotiating schedule to permit joint bargaining this Fall with Screen Actors Guild on the AFTRA Exhibit A (Primetime TV) Contract and SAG TV Agreement and the Basic (Theatrical) Agreement. Nationwide joint wages & working conditions meetings are currently underway in preparation for the negotiation of the AFTRA Exhibit A and SAG TV/Theatrical contracts which expire on June 30, 2011.

AFTRA Accepts SAG's Invitation to Jointly Bargain

2010-02-28T13:58:00Z

At its national board meeting yesterday, AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) voted to bargain its Primetime TV Agreement jointly with Screen Actors Guild as SAG negotiates its' TV and Basic Agreements. The SAG Basic Agreement covers, among other things, theatrical motion pictures. The bargaining will occur under the Phase One agreement along with the non-disparagement deal agreed to by AFTRA and SAG in advance of the successful joint bargaining on the Commercials Agreements. The unions negotiate the TV and theatrical contracts with the AMPTP (Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers). The AMPTP represents the major studios and other companies that authorize them to do so.

The Phase One agreement requires that the unions get equal numbers on the bargaining committee and that both memberships will vote on the whole deal. Costs associated with the negotiation are shared equally between the unions.

AFTRA has work to do in arranging its bargaining schedule. The most important of their contracts is the Network Code, covering all but work on primetime dramatic programming, expires November 15, 2010. SAG has agreed to start bargaining the TV and Basic Agreements in October 2010 well in advance of the expiration date of June 30, 2011. By agreeing to jointly bargaining, AFTRA has signed on to that schedule.

One of the bargaining challenges for the performers this round will be getting the contract minimums back in line. When SAG made its deal in January 2009, the AMPTP refused to apply the increases in the minimums retroactively. AFTRA's minimum rates are higher because they made their Primetime TV deal before the June 30, 2008 expiration date.

The unions will elicit member views on necessary changes to the agreements through a member meeting process called Wages and Working Conditions Committee meetings. The committee meetings will occur around the country in any branch or local with primetime TV or feature production. The meetings will likely start in the Spring in order to allow for the time necessary for the package of proposals to be reviewed and approved by the unions' political process.

IATSE Local 442 Makes an Agreement with MTC

2010-01-21T02:20:00Z

I.A.T.S.E. Local 442 announced that they made a deal with Metropolitan Theater Corporation and have called an end to their strike action at the Arlington Theater.

Negotiations restarted on Sunday January 17 and a deal was reached on January 20, just after noon.

The union acknowledged the support of the Santa Barbara community during their strike and thanked the MTC for their efforts to reach an agreement.

The new contract is in effect until June 2011.

IATSE Local 442 (Santa Barbara) has announced a strike against Metropolitan Theater Corporation

2010-01-13T06:43:00Z

IA Local 442 in Santa Barbara has called a strike against the Metropolitan Theater Corporation. They have asked that patrons of live performances boycott those performances and encourage MTC "to return to the table and offer [them] a fair deal. The announcement that the Local has posted on Facebook notes that the projectionists are still working under a current contract and that movie houses are not included in their request for a boycott.

AGMA Files Unfair Labor Practice Charges Against Troika Entertainment

2010-01-09T01:23:00Z

The American Guild of Variety Artists and Actors Equity Association are in a jurisdictional dispute over coverage of Twyla Tharp's latest show. The show is entitled "Come Fly Away" and features the music of Frank Sinatra. All of the performers in the show are dancers.

AGMA covers dancers, choreographers, stage managers, soloists and members of the chorus for operatic and ballet performances. AEA covers actors, singers, dancers and stage managers in plays and musicals.

Although the pre-Broadway performances were covered by an AGMA contract, Troika Entertainment notified AGMA that it had elected to produce the Broadway performances under the Actors Equity Association Production Contract. AEA has stated that Troika's producing partner, James Nederlander, is signatory to the Equity Production Contract (the contract applicable to Broadway shows during their run on Broadway and touring performances) and therefore Troika has a right to the contractual terms of the Production Contract. Alan Gordon, national director of AGMA, has answered in the press that AGMA's contracts better anticipate the unique needs of dancers

Generally, a collective bargaining agreement with an employer will state that the employer is agreeing that the union with whom they are bargaining is the exclusive representative of the category of employees being represented. Usually, but not always, the type of venue is one of the determining factors in the scope of the agreement -- for example, Equity's Production Contract for Broadway venues and AGMA's contract with the Metropolitan Opera. Therefore, AGMA's recourse would be against Troika for its failure to employ AGMA represented performers under the original contract or to bargain in good faith for a successor agreement.

This type of jurisdictional dispute between AGMA and AEA has arisen in the past in connection with Broadway shows centered on dance. The disputes have frequently been mediated by a jurisdiction committee at the Associated Actors and Artists of America.

UPI.com

BusinessWeek

Mark Zimmerman resigns his post as President of AEA, Paige Price, 1st VP, takes over

2009-12-14T05:05:00Z

Actors Equity Association announced Friday that Mark Zimmerman has resigned his position as President of the union, effective immediately. Zimmerman says that he is resigning to spend time with his long term partner and to focus on his career as an actor.
He is currently in the Broadway cast of West Side Story.

Zimmerman's exit comes only two weeks after the resignation of John Connolly, former Executive Director of AEA. Zimmerman stepped into the office of President when Patrick Quinn resigned as president in order to take the position of AEA Executive Director. Quinn suddenly and unexpectedly died just prior to his scheduled start date as the top executive. After Quinn's death, Zimmerman led the search which resulted in the hiring of John Connolly.

Zimmerman lead the negotiating committee for the last two Production Contract negotiations. The Production Contract is the Equity contract used in Broadway level theaters. Connolly served as chief negotiator on the last Production Contract negotiation. Zimmerman has also served on several other contract negotiating committees.

John Connolly leaves AEA Executive Director Position

2009-12-02T06:18:00Z

The U.S. Actors Equity Association has announced that John Connolly is leaving his post as Executive Director. Carol Waaser will serve as interim Executive Director effective immediately.

John Connolly was hired as Executive Director in 2007. Before taking this position, Connolly had served as a union leader for a number of years. He had been a national board member with both Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. He resigned from his office as President of AFTRA in order to take the Executive Director post. During his tenure with AEA, Connolly served as chief negotiator for the union's successful negotiations on the Broadway and regional theater collective bargaining agreements.

Carol Waaser most recently served as Eastern Regional Director. She had previously announced her retirement in February of 2010 but has agreed to stay on until AEA completes the search for a new Executive Director.

AEA represents 49,000 performers and stage managers working in live theater in the United States.

AFTRA Members Approve Vid Games Agreement

2009-11-12T22:16:00Z

AFTRA has announced that the voting members have approved the video games agreement. The members who worked within the last 3 years were eligible to vote. 2200 AFTRA members received ballots and were able to vote online or by phone.

Minimum wages will increase by 2.5% effective April 1, 2010. The new wage rate will be $802 for a four hour session. The AFTRA Health and Retirement Plans contribution rate will increase to 15% effective January 1, 2010 but the contributions will be subject to a annual, per employer, jper performer cap of $125,000.

A new category of work was created under the new agreement that allows the employer to hire a performer to record atmospheric voices. The boundaries of this category of work will be subject to on-going industry union discussions.

In addition, there is a new provision which requires employers to notify performers about vocally stressful work (screaming and the like). Failure to advise a performer will result in a liquidated damage assessment.

AFTRA's current vid game rates are available on the Rates page of the Entertainment Labor Consulting Inc website. The rates will be updated to include the increases shortly.

AFM files charges against Tony & Tina's Wedding

2009-11-10T17:58:00Z

The New York Times reports that Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians has filed unfair labor practice charges against the new producers of "Tony & Tina's Wedding" who want to change from live to recorded music. The producers are alledged to have locked out the musicians and denied them access to their musical instruments. In 2008 the AFM entered into a new collective bargaining agreement with the former producers of the show to run through May 2011. That agreement is asserted by the AFM to bind the new producers.

NY Times: http://tinyurl.com/ybvoj3r

Nick Counter Dies After Lifetime of Service

2009-11-07T16:57:00Z

Nick Counter retired only this year after serving as Chief Negotiator on behalf of the motion picture studios for decades. After the strikes in 1980, where he served as legal counsel for the employers, he became head of the newly constituted Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Nick consolidated the power of the industry by insisting that once there was consensus on an issue, the studios would be required to stand by that consensus. The two separate employer labor organizations were merged to avoid union whipsawing.

However, Nick was a deal maker. He understood that the industry was better served by making reasonable labor agreements rather than disruptive labor disputes. He found solutions and worked through thorny issues on behalf of those he repeHis larger perspective also ran to his role on the benefit plans serving the industry workers. His objective in every plan meeting was how to have the beneficiaries of the plan get the benefit of the plan. He occasionally ran into disputes with the union trustees on those plas but those disputes were always about how to maintain the long term health of the plan and not how to avoid providing the best benefits possible.

After his retirement he continued as a consultant to the AMPTP.

Carol Lombardini is Nick Counter's successor as President and Chief Negotiator. She is a powerful and skilled negotiator and will serve the studios well. But I think even she would acknowledge, that during the difficult round of bargaining which will begin in the coming year, Nick's touch, even in his reduced role, will be missed.

His family has asked that in lieu of flowers that a contribution is made to the Motion Picture & Television Fund or to the Entertainment Industry Foundation.

May his memory be a comfort to his family and friends.

IA resolves dispute with AFI

2009-11-04T22:06:00Z

The IATSE has announced an agreement with the American Film Institute management for the "front of house" workers at the AFI's Silver Theater and Cultural Center.

Last week, on the eve of the AFI Film Festival, the IA announced a boycott of AFI events. The IA asserted that the AFI was engaging in anti-union activities in connection with an organizing effort at the AFI Silver Theater and Cultural Center in Silver Springs, Maryland. In their statement the IA noted its historical support for the AFI.

As a result of continuing talks the parties reached an agreement on November 4, 2009. The IA states that the agreement provides for significant wage, benefit and working condition improvements.

AFTRA Recommends & SAG Rejects Tentative Vid Games Deal

2009-10-30T16:53:00Z

Last weekend AFTRA board members voted to send a ballot to members who work the games contract with a strong recommendation to ratify the tentative deal. Any paid up member who had earnings under the games contract during the previous term is eligible to vote. A contract ratification process by mail takes about one month.

On Monday and Tuesday of this week, interested SAG members met in caucus and voted on the tentative deal. SAG members voted the contract down.

Even if the employers continue bargaining with Screen Actors Guild, they are unlikely to do so before the AFTRA ratification vote is final.   In the interim, unless SAG announces otherwise, employers can continue to employ SAG members under the previous contract's terms.

At this point the contracts are almost identical except that AFTRA's rates are 3% higher and the benefit contribution rate is higher.   If AFTRA members ratify the tentative agreement, there will be additional benefit and rate increases next year. In addition, as noted in a previous post, the employers will have the flexibility to hire performers to perform multiple atmospheric voices.

The new atmospheric voice provision is the point of contention with the Screen Actors Guild members opposed to ratification. In their view, this provision will result in fewer jobs for skilled voice performers and overworking the voices of such performers to their detriment.

Ratification for SAG and AFTRA Interactive Media Agreements

2009-10-26T18:00:00Z

Although within its authority to ratify the agreement, the Screen Actors Guild at its National Board meetings over the October 17 weekend decided instead to have member meetings to vote on the tentative Interactive Media Agreement. We will know if the contract has been ratified or not after the last meeting in Los Angeles which ends at approximately 9:00 PM tomorrow. Details about the meetings are attached below.

If the contract is ratified, upon such ratification, SAG's minimum session rate for voice performers doing 3 voices or less will increase from $759 to $782 and the Pension and Health contribution rate will increase to 14.8%.

The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists at its board meeting this past weekend voted to send a referendum to members who work the contract. The mail ratification process will take at least three weeks.

Additional terms in the tentative agreement include:

Effective 4/1/2010 an additional salary increase of 2.5% that will bring the voice performer rate to $801 for both unions.
Effective 1/1/2010 an additional increase in benefit plan contribution bringing the total to 15%
Annual salary cap of $125,000 on benefit contributions per performer employed by a single employer
Obligation to notify performers of vocally stressful work (screaming and the like)
The parties have agreed to work together on a more specific definition of "vocally stressful"
Failure to notify a performer of vocally stressful work results in $100 in liquidated damages
New category of work includes performance of multiple atmospheric voices in a single session

Screen Actors Guild Ratification Meetings Regarding the 2009 Interactive Media Agreement

Date: Monday, October 26, 2009

San Francisco: 2-3:30 p.m. PDT
Regus Center
One Market, Spear Tower, Suite 3600
San Francisco, California 94105
RSVP via email at SFRSVP@sag.org or by phone at (415) 391-7510
Use of public transportation is recommended for this location

New York: 7-8:30 p.m. EDT
Leon Janney Board Room
360 Madison Ave, 14th floor
New York, NY 10017
RSVP to Courtney Doherty via email at cdoherty@sag.org or by phone at (212) 827-1402

Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Chicago: 7-8:30 p.m. CDT
McCorkle Court Reporters
200 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 300
Chicago, IL 60601
RSVP to via email at ChicagoRSVP@sag.org or by phone at (312) 867-2547

Los Angeles: 7:30-9 p.m. PDT
James Cagney Board Room, ground floor
5757 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
RSVP to Mary Hashimoto via email at mhashimoto@sag.org or by phone at (323) 549-6453
Parking will be validated.

All paid-up SAG members in good standing can attend. Unfortunately, no guests allowed. Parents/guardians of young performers under 18 years-old are welcome. PLEASE BRING YOUR SAG MEMBERSHIP CARD FOR ADMITTANCE (paid thru October 31, 2009).

DGA makes tentative commercials deal

2009-10-22T01:30:00Z

The DGA has arrived at a tentative national agreement with the AICP to cover work in commercials by their members.

The agreement covers a two-year term from November 1, 2009 through October 31, 2011 and includes salary increases, the adoption of a code of preferred practices on creative rights, and provisions protecting and securing pension and health coverage.

The Board of Directors will review the tentative deal at its meeting on Saturday October 24th. The Board will be asked to send the deal to the DGA members with a recommendation for ratification.

As details of the agreement become available, they will be posted on the resource section of the website.

DGA - Directors Guild of America
AICP - Association of Independent Commercial Producers

Practice Notes from the Piven Arbitration

2009-10-16T01:16:00Z

The New York Times obtained a copy of the arbitration decision that held that Jeremy Piven did not breach his contract to Speed the Plow producers by leaving the play before his contractual termination date. The arbitrator fundamentally found that Piven was credible in his argument that his medical condition was serious enough that he was entitled to leave the production without penalty. The decision recounts many doctors appointments, many medical tests with troubling to alarming results and finally an emergency room visit. The arbitrator did not find the producer credible when he testified that he was not aware of the situation nor did he find that the medical experts presented by the production company had adequately examined Piven in order to render a credible opinion.

Actors Equity Association presented several arguments founded in the Production Contract, the actors' and stage managers' collective bargaining agreement applicable to Broadway, that the arbitrator found were not applicable to this case but in doing so gave us some important practical guidance should these issues be confronted by others.

First, Equity argued that Rule 16(E) of the Production Contract provides that, in the absence of an employment contract filed with Equity, a performer could terminate their employment contract with the reasonable consent of Actors Equity Association. Speed the Plow argued that this provision was no longer in current use and although Piven's contract was not filed, neither are many star contracts. The arbitrator did not address the producers' argument but instead found that the provision was not applicable because although Piven had obtained consent from Equity, it was long after the actual termination. In the arbitrator's opinion, the provision requires that the consent be obtained before termination of the contract not long after. Note that although the arbitrator did not address the Producer's argument, it is generally the case that when a collectively bargained provision is clear on its face, the arbitrator must apply the provision as it is stated. Custom and practice (here the lack of filed star contracts) are generally admissibly only to help the arbitrator interpret the parties' intent and therefore give the meaning of the provision, when that provision is unclear.

Talent Representatives: If you are going to attempt to utilize Section 16(E) to prematurely terminate an unfiled Broadway contract, ask Equity for its consent before terminating the contract.

Producers: Finalize and file your employment contracts before commencement of rehearsal to the extent possible. If you are not able to close the deal because of bargaining delays, file a document detailing whatever terms you have been able to confirm and the reason why there has been a delay.

Second, Equity argued that since the producers had failed to follow procedures in Rule 34(D), they were barred from arguing that Piven was not actually ill. Rule 34 deals with Sick Leave and Illness. Rule 34 (B) deals with the accrual of sick leave by an actor and states that actors earning in excess of $3,500 shall not be entitled to sick leave. Subparagraph (D) of that Rule requires that the producer challenge an asserted illness before a committee made up of an Equity Deputy, Stage Manager and Company Manager. The producers argued that the Rule is not applicable because the Rule is subject to a cap of performers earning $3500. The arbitrator found that he did not have to reach the $3500 cap question because Rule 34, in its entirety, was applicable to temporary sick leaves and not the situation presented.

Talent Representatives: If you obtain a contract paying your client more than $3,500 and your client wishes to be assured the contractual benefit of Rule 34, includes either sick leave accrual or a Producer's challenge of your client's assertion of illness, make sure that his or her contract states it explicitly. You may wish to consider including a provision to deal with an early termination for illness as well.

Producers: Understand and follow carefully Rule 34 in terms of challenging an actor's illness claim.

Third, the producers argued that Piven's difficulty in performing was due to his nightlife and was not a bona fide illness. The arbitrator noted that, unlike other cases in which he had been involved, the producer did not have Piven examined by a doctor.

Producers: If you are going to take the position that an actor is not medically ill, have this confirmed by a medical professional who has examined the actor personally.

SAG Industrial/Educational Agreement and AFTRA Industrial Non-Broadcast Code are extended to April 31, 2011 without a wage increase

2009-10-16T01:14:00Z

Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists announced today that the AFTRA Administrative Committee and Screen Actors Guild National Board of Directors have approved an 18-month extension to the SAG Industrial and Educational Contract and AFTRA Code of Fair Practice for Non Broadcast/Industrial/Educational Recorded Material. The contracts, which were set to expire on October 29, 2009, will now be effective November 1, 2009, to April 31, 2011.

The agreement includes a 0.5% increase in employer contributions to the Screen Actors Guild-Producers Pension and Health Plans and AFTRA Health and Retirement Funds, effective November 1, 2009, and a clarification that work produced under the industrial contracts is not and never has been intended for the production of commercials. The deal does not include a rate increase.

The extension agreement was negotiated by both unions under the terms of the AFL-CIO facilitated Joint Commercials Contracts Negotiating Agreement, which governs the bargaining and administration of the 2009-2012 Commercials contracts, and was expanded earlier this summer to cover the 2009 negotiation of the AFTRA Non-Broadcast/Industrial Contract and the SAG Industrial and Educational Contract. The Chief Negotiator for the Industry Lee W. Gluckman Jr., who represented the employers in the negotiations said, “This extended agreement will quite beneficial to producers and their clients in growing production. The ‘no commercials here’ clarification is also an important addition to the contract.”

The SAG and AFTRA contracts cover performers rendering on-camera and voiceover services in sales programs, educational and training videos, informational and promotional messages seen in stores and video included in certain consumer products, and other projects that are exhibited outside of the traditional broadcast arena (with AFTRA’s contract also covering audio-only content, such as telephone messages and sound included in consumer products).

It Is Official - Carol Lombardini is President of the AMPTP

2009-10-16T01:13:00Z

Carol Lombardini, longtime right-hand to Nick Counter, has officially assumed the mantle of President of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The AMPTP is the bargaining representative of the major studios as well as a number of larger independent companies. Carol has served as second chair in almost every significant labor negotiation in the entertainment industry for more than a decade. Her knowledge and ability are deservedly legend. The studios will continue to have a strong hand guiding the frequently difficult industry labor negotiations.

Tentative Deal on Performers' Interactive Game Agreements

2009-10-02T16:11:00Z

Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) today announced they have reached tentative agreements with video game companies on new contracts. The agreements -- which become effective upon ratification and remain in full force until March 30, 2011 – achieve parity between the AFTRA and Screen Actors Guild interactive media contracts and include contemporaneous expiration dates of March 30, 2011.

In addition, the contracts deliver a 3 percent wage increase upon ratification for SAG, thereby bringing SAG’s wages into parity with AFTRA’s, and another 2.5 percent increase on April 1, 2010, for both unions. AFTRA members received a 3% increase in January 2009 when the AFTRA agreement was extended until December 31, 2009. Both pacts contain increases in benefit contributions and a liquidated damages provision to incentivize employers to give notice of vocally stressful work.

The contracts also establish a new category of performance for “atmospheric voices” that is designed to increase work opportunities for union performers by allowing Producers the flexibility to record multiple minor character voices in a single session.

The agreements also establish a cap of $125,000 on contributions to the AFTRA Health and Retirement and SAG Pension and Health funds. The cap will only apply to performers who are paid more than $125,000 by a single producer in a single year for work done on the same game franchise.

Highlights of these agreements include:

The achievement of parity between the SAG and AFTRA contracts including contemporaneous expiration on March 30, 2011.
A 3% wage increase for Screen Actors Guild members upon ratification and additional 2.5% increase on April 1, 2010, for both unions. The wage for a four hour voice over session will move to $781.75 for SAG-covered work as of the ratification date equal to the current AFTRA rate.
A .5% increase in the pension and health contribution rate for Screen Actors Guild member effective upon ratification (14.8%)and another .2% on January 1, 2010, for both unions (bringing the total rate to 15%).
The establishment of a $100 liquidated damage for failure to give notice of vocally stressful work.
An agreement to develop during the term of the contract a set of guidelines for conducting vocally stressful work.

The tentative agreements must be ratified by Screen Actors Guild’s National Board of Directors and the AFTRA Administrative Commitee, both of which will meet in the coming weeks.

This was a tough time to be bargaining for workers in the video game sector. According to NPD, a top industry analyst, 2009 revenue is down 17% as of June 2009 relative to the 2008 revenue as of June 2008. The June 2009 monthly revenue was down 31% relative to June 2008.

In solo talks with game employers last year, AFTRA extended its Interactive Media Agreement to December 31, 2009. The current AFTRA rates are available on the Rates page of the Entertainment Labor Consulting, Inc. website. SAG's current agreement has an expiration date of December 31, 2008. SAG performers will continue to work under the terms of the 2005-2008 SAG agreement until ratification anticipated to be mid-October in both unions.

Screen Actors Guild announces Election Results - Ken Howard is elected as President

2009-09-25T06:04:00Z

Screen Actors Guild members eleected Ken Howard as Screen Actors Guild national president and Amy Aquino was elected as secretary-treasurer. Both will serve two-year terms beginning September 25.

Screen Actors Guild also announced election results for the National Board of Directors. Twenty-two of the 69 national board seats were open for election this year, representing Screen Actors Guild’s Hollywood, New York and Regional Branch divisions.

The National Board members elected today will assume office on September 25 for terms of three years. SAG’s Hollywood Division elected eleven National Board members; the New York Division elected four National Board members; and seven National Board members were elected from the union’s branches in Chicago, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Philadelphia, Portland and San Diego.

National Board members elected from the Hollywood Division: Martin Sheen, Ed Harris, Elliott Gould, Ed Asner, Anne-Marie Johnson, Connie Stevens, Diane Ladd, Dulé Hill, Hill Harper, Nancy Travis, and Marcia Wallace (all three-year terms).

The following were elected to serve as National Board alternates and to the Hollywood Division Board of Directors (all one-year terms). Gabrielle Carteris, Jenny O’Hara, Michael O’Keefe, Clyde Kusatsu, Dawnn Lewis, Doug Savant, Michelle Allsopp, Alan Rosenberg, D. W. Moffett, Joe Bologna, Robert Hays, Jason George, L. Scott Caldwell, Clark Gregg, Patrick Fabian, Bill Smitrovich, Ellen Crawford, Stacey Travis, Mandy Steckelberg, Renee Taylor, Bernie Casey and John Carroll Lynch.

National Board members elected from the New York Division: Sharon Washington, Monica Trombetta, Sam Freed and Liz Zazzi (all three-year terms). Additionally, New York Division members elected Mike Hodge as NY Division President.

The following were elected to serve as national board alternates and to the New York Division board of directors (all one-year terms.) Manny Alfaro, Sheila Head, Marc Baron, Joe Narciso, Jay Potter, Dave Bachman, John Rothman, Kevin Scullin and Justin Barrett.

National Board members elected from the Regional Branch Division: John Carter Brown (Chicago – three-year term), David Hartley-Margolin (Colorado – three-year term), Dave Corey (Florida – three-year term), Scott Rogers (Hawaii – three-year term), Helen McNutt (Philadelphia – three-year term), Mary McDonald-Lewis (Portland – three-year term), Don Ahles (San Diego – three-year term).

John Wells is Elected WGA President

2009-09-19T16:33:00Z

Writers Guild of America West reported the results of their board and officer election yesterday John Wells was elected as President in a contest with Elias Davis. Davis was supported by exiting President Patric Verrone.

Tom Schulman was elected as Vice President. David N. Weiss was elected as Secretary/Treasurer.

"I'm remarkably humbled by the membership returning me to the Presidency of the Guild. I look forward to working with the Board again and to working with David Young and his talented staff to meet the many challenges that lie ahead,” said Wells.

“My congratulations to John Wells for his success in a hard-fought campaign. And my congratulations to all members elected to the board. We writers can be somewhat argumentative and opinionated, as anyone who has ever sat around a writers’ table knows. This campaign certainly highlighted some our differences. Now, it's time to pull together and work for the benefit of us all,” said Elias Davis.

The following nine writers were elected to the WGAW’s Board of Directors: Patric Verrone (former President), Howard Rodman, Dan Wilcox, Linda Burstyn, Billy Ray, Steven Schwartz, Chip Johannessen, Carlton Eastlake, Ian Deitchman. There was a tie for the eighth seat on the Board of Directors. Under the Guild’s constitution, both candidates will be seated.

The Officers and Board members will serve for a term of two years, effective immediately.

A total of 2,348 valid ballots were cast, making this one of the largest election voter turnouts in WGAW history.