The Directors Guild of America has ordered its members to cross the picket line when entertainment industry writers go on strike, as required by their contract.
The union, which represents directors, production managers and deputy directors, recalled this More than 19,000 members exercised the DGA’s “no strike” clause with studios and streamers in a statement from on Tuesday. This clause, common in employment contracts, requires that during its current pact, which expires June 30, the union “will not declare, engage in, or assist in any strikes, slowdowns, or work stoppages affecting film production.” The clause also requires that the DGA “use good faith and best efforts to require its members to perform their services for the employer” even when other branch unions go on strike.
After the industry overwhelmingly went on strike earlier this week, the writers’ union could call a strike as early as May 1, although a work stoppage is not yet guaranteed and will depend on the outcome of ongoing negotiations with studios and streamers.
“It is an integral part of our basic agreement that the guild not only waive strikes during the term of the basic agreement, but that the guild provide assurances to employers that our members will continue to provide DGA-covered services during the term of the basic agreement,” they said DGA President Lesli Linka Glatter and National Executive Secretary Russell Hollander at the embassy set to answer questions following the WGA strike authorization vote. “These provisions are taken very seriously by businesses and the courts, and we take these obligations very seriously as well.”
has contacted the DGA for comment.
For members who are both WGA and DGA affiliates, the Directors’ Union advised that if they are only working on a project as a DGA member and not as an author, “then you must keep working”. If a worker is employed as both an author and a member of the DGA, “we will provide you with additional information after the WGA issues its strike rules,” the guild said.
A source who is both a member of the DGA and the WGA said: “It’s a real dilemma. I cannot in good conscience cross a picket line.”
In its statement this week, the DGA was quick to point out that it does not know if the WGA will go on strike after its film and television contract expires on May 1st. The Writers’ Guild remains in negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), who issued a statement Monday, noting their goal is to reach a “fair and reasonable settlement.”
Negotiations between the DGA and the AMPTP are currently scheduled to start on May 10th. Even if the authors went on strike after their contract expired on May 1, the union assured its members that a possible work stoppage would not affect the start of their negotiations. “We have a fiduciary responsibility to you, our members, to achieve the best possible deal. In addition, we have a legal and contractual obligation to deal in good faith, and we intend to honor that obligation,” wrote Glatter and Hollander.
The DGA has been preparing its members for a contentious round of negotiations this spring for months. It will be “one of the most difficult and complex we have faced in many years,” executives told members earlier this year. The guild strives to improve streaming residuals for members, introduce new safety standards, gain more transparency from employers, shore up their health and retirement plans, and make progress on diversity initiatives.
Kim Masters contributed to the coverage.