ITV Statement

IAWG Supports WGA E in ITV Action

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Members of the International Affiliation of Writers Guilds took to the streets of New York to protest outside the offices of ITV prior to passing a resolution of support for the Writers Guild of America, East. Video by WGC President, Jill Golick.

IAWG Resolution on ITV and Its U.S. Subsidiary October 20, 2011, New York, New York, USA

WHEREAS; ITV Studios is an international production and broadcast company headquartered in Great Britain; and

WHEREAS; ITV recognizes the Writers Guild of Great Britain and other unions as the representatives of its employees in Britain; and

WHEREAS; ITV Studios has a growing U.S operation that produces nonfiction programs for basic cable television; its subsidiary in New York City produces the hit shows The First 48, Four Weddings, and others; and

WHEREAS; a majority of employees at ITV Studios in New York signed cards authorizing collective bargaining (as did writers and producers at several other similar production companies), and the Writers Guild of America, East filed a petition for a representation election with the National Labor Relations Board; and

WHEREAS; despite ITV's anti-Guild campaign the WGAE won this election on December 13, 2010, but ITV has refused to honor the results of this election, choosing instead to interpose a series of challenges and objections, all of which have been rejected by the NLRB; and WHEREAS; the International Affiliation of Writers Guilds is an international body representing guilds of professional screenwriters; and

WHEREAS; the International Affiliation of Writers Guilds seeks to improve conditions through collective action, mutual support and common representation internationally; now therefore, be it

RESOLVED; that the IAWG calls upon ITV to honor the results of the NLRB-conducted election, to recognize the WGAE as the representative of the employees in the bargaining unit agreed upon in the NLRB proceedings, and to negotiate in good faith with the WGAE with respect to the employees' wages, benefits, and other terms of employment.