Movie and TV producers said Thursday a Writers Guild of America unfair labor practice charge against producers is "baseless" and "desperate."

The WGA filed charges Thursday with the National Labor Relations Board accusing the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers of failing to bargain in good faith.

The WGA has been striking against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers since Nov. 5. The AMPTP broke off negotiations last week and no new talks have been scheduled.

"It is a clear violation of federal law for the AMPTP to issue an ultimatum and break off negotiations if we fail to cave to their illegal demands," the WGA said in a statement Thursday.

"We are in the midst of the holiday season, with thousands of our members and the membership of other unions out of work. It is the height of irresponsibility and intransigence for the AMPTP to refuse to negotiate a fair agreement with the WGA."

The guild repeated its demand that the AMPTP "immediately return to the negotiations, rather than going on vacation, so that this town (Hollywood) can be put back to work."

The AMPTP rejected the complaint.

"The WGA's filing of a complaint with the NLRB reminds us of the old lawyers' adage: When the facts are on your side, argue the facts. When the law is on your side, argue the law. And when you don't have either the law or the facts on your side, you pound the table," the statement said. "The WGA has now been reduced to pounding the table, and this baseless, desperate NLRB complaint is just the latest indication that the WGA's negotiating strategy has achieved nothing for working writers."  // Copyright 2007 by United Press International



Publication date: 14 December 2007   

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