The International Affiliation of Writers Guilds

The IAWG is an international body representing guilds of professional screenwriters. We work to further the cause of screenwriters worldwide by lobbying governments to adopt writer-friendly legislation and through collective action, mutual support and common representation internationally.

The IAWG includes representatives from the Australian Writers Guild, the Irish Playwrights and Screenwriters Guild, the New Zealand Writers Guild, the Société des auteurs de radio, télévision et cinéma (SARTEC), the Writers Guild of America, East, the Writers Guild of America, West, the Writers Guild of Canada and the Writers Guild of Great Britain. Associate members include the Sección de Autores y Adaptadores de Trabajadores de la Producción Cinematográfica (Mexico) and the Union-Guilde des Scénaristes (France). The South African Writers Guild (SAWG) currently participates as an observer.

"Their Fight is Our Fight"

In November, 2007, the IAWG co-ordinated an International Day of Solidarity in support of the WGA strike against multi-national media conglomerates. Writers demonstrated in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, English and French Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico and France.

"Their fight is our fight," asserted Rebecca Schechter, President, Writers Guild of Canada. "Screenwriters around the world are entitled to receive their fair share of revenues from the internet, and that is what our American colleagues are fighting for."

Katharine Way, Chair, Writers Guild of Great Britain, argued that "The future of our industry is shifting toward new media. Writers have always had to fight for a small share of the revenues generated from their work and this case is no different."

Audrey O'Reilly, Chair, Irish Playwrights and Screenwriters Guild, added that "Our solidarity means that no self-respecting screenwriter in any country will undermine the US strike. The overwhelming majority of our members will never take work from striking American colleagues because the fight now taking place in the US is a fight for screenwriters across the globe."

Tim Pye, President, Australian Writers Guild, said that "the IAWG urges the international corporate giants to share just a few more drops from their buckets of money with the creators - without whose work their TV shows, movies, webisodes and downloads would not exist."