Ooh. From the WGAe website, dated tomorrow:
Today the WGA filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board against the AMPTP for its refusal to bargain in good faith with the WGA. 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.
Nikki Finke will probably have more by the time I hit 'publish.' There's a bit more detail here, and of course the AMPTP is calling the filing 'desperate'. I suppose there'll be lots and lots of articles explaining this over the next few days -- just in time to drive me nuts on Monday.
There's also a lot out there about the Director's Guild (DGA), due to hold its own negotiations with the AMPTP, which just released a statement saying
Because we want to give the WGA and the AMPTP more time to return to the negotiating table to conclude an agreement, the DGA will not schedule our negotiations to begin until after the New Year, and then, only if an appropriate basis for negotiations can be established. If that’s the case, then the DGA will commence formal talks in the hope that a fresh perspective and the additional pressure we can bring to bear will help force the AMPTP to settle the issues before us in a fair and reasonable manner.
I can't decipher the spin. And it all looks like spin to me.
And MTV/Viacom gave in (somewhat) to the freelancers:
On Wednesday, the company said freelancers would be permitted to keep their current health care plans, and it extended by two months the deadline for freelancers to choose plans. The company also said it would evaluate whether some freelance positions should be converted to staff jobs.
Despite the changes, some of the freelancers walked out of work again Wednesday to chant "Shame on Viacom" and "We’re being Punk’d," a reference to an MTV reality series.
Brian, a two-year freelancer at Nickelodeon who would give only his first name for fear of retaliation, said the protests would continue despite the changes.
"It’s better, but it’s not great," he said. "It’s certainly not what we had before."
Protesters said they were seeking the restoration of paid time off, tuition reimbursement and company matching for 401(k) contributions. A company spokeswoman said she anticipated no further changes to the proposed benefits package.
More round and about on that. | 
Comments are closed on this story.