Tyler Perry fires writers looking to unionize
David
Writers at Tyler Perry Studio to Take Strike Action: Will Picket Grand
Opening and Ask Invited Guests Not To Attend
The WGA West just issued this surprising news release:
Los Angeles � The Writers Guild of America, West is taking on the
fight for justice of writers who were fired when they tried to get a
union contract with Tyler Perry�s production company, House of Payne,
LLC. The Guild today filed unfair labor practice charges with the
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), alleging that House of Payne
unlawfully fired four writers in retaliation for their union activity.
The charge also alleges that the company bargained in bad faith with
the Guild, which is seeking to negotiate a contract covering the
writers on Perry�s cable television series House of Payne and Meet the
Browns.
The four writers, Kellie Griffin, Christopher Moore, Teri
Brown-Jackson, and Lamont Ferrell, as well as supporters from the
Writers Guild and the community, will be picketing during Saturday�s
opening of Perry�s new studio and they�re asking invited guests to
respect their picket line. Together, these writers have written over
one hundred episodes of House of Payne. Since April of this year they
have been involved in a union organizing campaign with the Writers
Guild of America, West so that their work on that show and the
upcoming Meet the Browns would be covered by a Guild contract. Despite
the enormous success of House of Payne, Perry has refused to agree to
a contract that would give the writers health care, pensions, and
residuals. On Tuesday of this week he fired the writers, after warning
them some weeks ago that they should �be careful about pushing the WGA
deal or you could be replaced.�
�We�re asking all those who had planned to attend the opening of
Tyler Perry�s new studio not to cross our picket line,� said writer
Christopher Moore. �It�s very disheartening considering that this is a
studio run by African Americans. What Tyler Perry is essentially
saying to us is that �you�re black and there�s not a lot of
opportunities for you so you�ll take what I give you� � whether it�s
fair or not.�
�I feel like I was slapped in the face, like we were used� said
writer and WGAW member Teri Brown-Jackson. �We were good enough to
create over a hundred episodes, but now when it comes to reaping the
benefits of the show being syndicated and having other spin-offs from
it, he decides to let us go unless we accept a horrible offer.�
�Disrespected, betrayed, saddened�it�s hard to describe,� said
writer and WGAW member Lamont Ferrell. �The actors and a majority of
the production crew on the show were working under union contracts and
they received the pay and benefits that you need to survive on in this
business. But after all those episodes and success when it came time
for us to get a fair contract, we�re told on a conference call �sorry,
you�re fired.��
The show�s head writer, Kellie Griffin, added, �A lot of people
who fought for civil rights and social justice never really saw what
eventually came out of their work. While I�d like to see something
positive come out of this for us, if this fight helps future black
writers get what they deserve, that�s a good thing.�
The writers and their supporters will be picketing at the grand
opening of Tyler Perry Studios on Saturday, October 4, starting at 4
pm, and on Sunday, October 5, starting at 9 am.