Writers from E!'s FASHION POLICE Now on Strike Due to Labor Dispute

By: Apr. 17, 2013
Enter Your Email to Unlock This Article

Plus, get the best of BroadwayWorld delivered to your inbox, and unlimited access to our editorial content across the globe.




Existing user? Just click login.

Twelve writers from E!'s popular reality series FASHION POLICE have filed complaints with the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement this month. They are currently seeking payment for what they claim were unpaid regular and overtime hours totaling $1.5 million.

The Writers Guild of America is now showing their solidarity by sending out a letter to Guild members urging them to not to accept work on the show. The text of the letter follows:

Dear WGAW and WGAE members,

Writers on E! Network's comedy-variety show, Fashion Police, walked off their jobs today to gain Writers Guild coverage and to protest the company's unfair labor practices. Their strike is recognized and supported by the WGAW and the WGAE. As per Working Rule 8, Guild members are prohibited from writing for the show.

Although Fashion Police is one of E!'s highest-rated shows, its writers lack health and pension benefits, residuals, and industry-standard compensation. When the writers began to organize earlier this year they were met with threats and delaying tactics.

The writers notified the company they are finished writing until they are covered by a Guild agreement and compensated appropriately. There are two possible endings to this conflict. Either E! will agree to cover the writers under a Guild contract, or it will no longer benefit from the writing talents of the current staff of Guild members.

Please support the Fashion Police writers and spread the word to non-members who might be approached to write for the show. If the stand-up and comedy-variety writing communities support this strike, the show cannot go on, at least with its current format and quality. Strongly encourage non-members to respect the strike and support these writers, who are taking a stand against substandard wages and conditions. Any non-Guild writer who chooses to undercut this strike by taking a striker's job could jeopardize future Writers Guild membership.

The Fashion Police writers are united, strong, and determined. We stand with them.

In solidarity,

Chris, Howard, Carl, David

Michael, Jeremy, Bob, Lowell



Comments

To post a comment, you must register and login.
Vote Sponsor


Videos