NEWS FLASH

Last week Fred Wood, a Committee for Change member and UAL mechanic at SFO, wrote about the support that the Teamsters have for members of other unions, namely the UAW members who were striking at Chrysler and GM. Here’s more recent evidence of how highly regarded the Teamsters are. Something to think about the next time you’re watching TV (as you’ll see below) and when you’re making the decision on your future representation.

 –The Committee for Change

 Writers Guild to Teamsters: Thank You for the Support

The presidents of the Writers Guild of America West and East, as well as the guild’s chief negotiator and negotiating committee chairman, offered their thanks to the Teamsters for standing by them as they face a general strike against motion picture and television producers.

“Thank you for your tremendous support,” the letter, addressed to Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa, states. “As our members struggle through this difficult time, it is great comfort to have a union as powerful as the International Brotherhood of Teamsters on our side.”

The letter, dated November 1, went on to say:

"As you may know we have been working closely with IBT Local 399 and Secretary-Treasurer Leo T. Reed to strengthen the solidarity of our two unions. Mr. Reed and his staff at Local 399 have been brothers and allies to our union in spite of the tremendous pressure from management they face in doing so. In your statement today, you said ‘the genesis of any production comes directly from the talented minds of these writers.’ We are honored by this sentiment and compliment.

"In Hollywood, a union member couldn’t have a better friend than a Teamster; they are the drivers, the location managers and the casting directors, their commitment individually and as an institution to fundamental trade union policies have earned them the utmost respect of every WGA member.

"We have worked very hard over the past several years to help educate our members and deepen their commitment to our union and to the broader labor movement. The continuing support and brotherhood of the Teamsters has made our job easier as they learn firsthand what solidarity looks like.

"Today we are on the eve of a general strike and we know that only a fellow unionist can understand the gravity of our circumstances. Furthermore, we know that you share our great concern for every worker this will impact. Please do not hesitate to call on your bothers and sisters at the Writers Guilds of America if we can ever be of service to you or your members."

The letter was signed by President of WGA West Patric M. Verrone, President of WGA East Michael Winship, chief negotiator and executive director of WGA West David Young and negotiating committee chairman John F. Bowman.