End of Hollywood writers' strike in sight
The Writers Guild of America have moved swiftly towards a resolution of its three-month-old strike, with union leaders voting unanimously to ask members to decide on ending the walkout that has paralysed film and TV production.
Membership meetings would be held tomorrow to allow writers to decide whether the strike should be brought to an immediate end, said Patric Verrone, president of the Writers Guild of America, West.
The union's negotiating committee also recommended the contract be accepted, and the West branch's board of directors and the East Coast unit's council agreed.
They called for a membership ratification vote, which will be conducted by post over about two weeks.
By asking writers to vote separately and quickly on whether to lift the guild's strike order, the union would allow the entertainment industry to return to work immediately.
Member approval of the contract and an end to the strike appeared likely.
At heavily-attended membership meetings on Saturday in New York and Los Angeles, there was resounding support for the proposed deal that could put TV and movie production back on track and remove a boycott threat from the February 24 Oscars award ceremony.
