How Many WGA Members Does it Take to Change a Lightbulb? However Many the Producers Decide

It's amazing how many people now seem convinced that the Writers Gulld of America may now vote not to strike the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers when the WGA's contract expires on Oct. 31 after months of doom and gloom forecasts of a protracted work stoppage. Methinks someone is being overly optimistic if this newfound hope stems solely from the Tuesday announcement that the AMPTP had dramatically decided to take its controversial insistence on rolling back writer residuals off the table.

This is, of course, precisely what producers were hoping for: the idea that the WGA would view a decision not to take away its past gains as a victory. The AMPTP gains a psychological edge in making what looks like a concession but is actually merely a negotiating ploy, since all it has done is restore the pre-discussions status quo in this single important area. Now it has the advantage of being able to insist, "We conceded that one -- now it's your turn to give a little."

If the WGA is serious about making real gains for its members, it will view the residual rollbacks as a red herring that was never intended to be taken seriously. It shouldn't be seen as part of negotiations but a disingenuous distraction and carry little impact on any strike decision one way or the other.