DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ After Outcry, Writers Guild Tries to Explain Silence on Hamas Attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Nicole Sperling | More About Nicole Sperling | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

They also noted that other major Hollywood unions had issued statements condemning the attack. “I hope this letter goes a long way to sort of calming some of it down,” said Mr. Gordon, who signed the open letter to the guild. He will change his guild membership status to “financial core,” according to his letter. Under that designation, he will still receive the contract benefits earned by the guild but he will no longer be able to vote or attend any guild meetings. “If one cannot condemn, clearly, and without reservation, what Hamas perpetrated, one’s moral compass is absent, not broken.”

Persons: ”, Meredith Stiehm, Michele Mulroney, Betsy Thomas, Jerry Seinfeld, Eric Roth, Amy Sherman, Palladino, Maisel, “, Howard Gordon, Gordon, Dan Gordon, “ Wyatt Earp, Mr, Gordon’s, pusillanimous Organizations: Writers Guild of America West, The New York Times, Toronto Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Polish

☆ Writers Guild Faces Backlash for Not Condemning Hamas Attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Nicole Sperling | More About Nicole Sperling | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Just weeks after the Writers Guild of America displayed solidarity by ending a monthslong strike and voting overwhelmingly in favor of a new contract with the major entertainment companies, the union is being roiled by a fight over its lack of a public statement condemning the Hamas attack on Israel. On Oct. 15, eight days after the attack, a group of screenwriters signed an open letter to the Writers Guild asking why it had not issued a statement condemning the attack. The letter now has more than 300 signers, including Jerry Seinfeld, Amy Sherman-Palladino (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) and Gideon Raff (“Homeland”). Later Friday, Meredith Stiehm, the president of the Writers Guild of America West, sent an email to members who had inquired about the lack of a response. “For these reasons, we have decided not to comment publicly.”Calls to the union on Monday were not returned.

Persons: Jerry Seinfeld, Amy Sherman, Palladino, Maisel, Gideon Raff, ”, Meredith Stiehm, “, ” Jonathan Greenblatt, Maha Dakhil, Israel, Dakhil, Bryan Lourd, Natalie Portman, Tom Cruise, Reese Witherspoon Organizations: Writers Guild of America, Writers Guild, The New York Times, Defamation League, Hollywood, Creative Artists Agency, The Times Locations: Israel

☆ Hollywood writers union ratifies three-year labor contract after strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SAG-AFTRA actors and Writers Guild of America (WGA) writers walk the picket line outside Disney Studios in Burbank, California, U.S., July 25, 2023. Members of the SAG-AFTRA actors union walked off the job in July and were meeting studio negotiators again on Monday to try to reach an agreement. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents Walt Disney (DIS.N), Netflix (NFLX.O) and other media companies, said the contract "represents meaningful gains and protections for writers." "It is important progress for our industry that writers are back to work," the group said in a statement. Negotiators for the SAG-AFTRA actors union continued contract talks with studios on Monday.

Persons: Mike Blake, Meredith Stiehm, Walt Disney, Jimmy Kimmel, Bill Maher, ”, Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, Lisa Richwine, Chris Reese, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Writers Guild of America, Disney Studios, REUTERS, WGA, SAG, UPS, Alliance, Television Producers, Walt, Netflix, Milken, Thomson Locations: Burbank , California, U.S, Hollywood, United States, Detroit, California

☆ Hollywood writers ratify new contract with studios
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Writers Guild of America East members walk a picket line at the Paramount+ Summit outside the Paramount Building in Times Square in New York City on May 17, 2023The Writers Guild of America has officially ratified its new three-year contract with Hollywood studios. The guild on Monday announced that 99% of its membership voted to ratify the new deal, with 8,435 votes for "yes" and only 90 for "no." "Through solidarity and determination, we have ratified a contract with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of our combined membership," said Meredith Stiehm, president of Writers Guild of America West. The guild also negotiated higher contribution rates to health benefits and pensions, as well as a guaranteed number of writers in writers' rooms for television shows. "Until the studios make a deal that addresses the needs of performers, WGA members will be on the picket lines, walking side-by-side with SAG-AFTRA in solidarity," said Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, president of Writers Guild of America East.

Persons: Meredith Stiehm, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, Lisa Takeuchi Cullen Organizations: Guild of America East, Paramount, Guild of America, Hollywood, Monday, Writers Guild of America West, WGA, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Disney, Netflix, Universal, Warner Bros, Discovery, SAG, Writers Guild of America East, Comcast, CNBC, NBCUniversal Locations: New York City, NBCUniversal

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hollywood writers have voted almost unanimously to approve the contract agreement reached by their union leaders that ended a strike after nearly five months, while actors remain in negotiations to find a way out of their own strike. The Writers Guild of America announced Monday that 99% of the 8,525 members who cast ballots voted to ratify the deal. Writers guild leaders urged studios to grant actors' demands and said their members would picket alongside them until a deal was reached. The writers' new contract runs thorough May 1, 2026, three years after their previous contract expired and they went on strike. Two days later, when the board members voted to approve the agreement and send it to members, the strike was declared over and writers were released to work.

Persons: Meredith Stiehm, ” Organizations: ANGELES, Hollywood, Guild of America, WGA, Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Writers, Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros, Alliance, Television Producers

CNN —Members of the Writers Guild of America union ratified a new contract with Hollywood and television studios, the WGA said in a statement released Monday. Of the 8,525 valid votes cast, 99% of WGA members voted to ratify the new contract, which will last from September 25, 2023, through May 1, 2026, the release said. “The AMPTP member companies congratulate the WGA on the ratification of its new contract, which represents meaningful gains and protections for writers. The writers’ strike began in May and ended last month — after 148 days — following a tentative contract agreement made between the union and the AMPTP. The writers’ strike, coupled with the ongoing SAG-AFTRA actors’ strike, hobbled the entertainment industry’s ability to do business over the last few months.

Persons: ”, Meredith Stiehm, Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, “, ’ Organizations: CNN, Writers Guild of America, Hollywood, WGA, Alliance, Television Producers, SAG, Netflix, Disney, Hollywood’s Locations: “

ELLEN STUTZMANEllen Stutzman was the one sitting across the table from Lombardini in the failed negotiations that led to the writers strike. Stutzman, also an attorney, took over as chief negotiator for the Writers Guild on Feb. 28, just two weeks before contract talks began. She still has the title from her previous role: assistant executive director for the Writers Guild of America West. Drescher's less-known counterparts on the writers' side — technically two unions that unite for negotiations and strikes — are Michael Winship and Meredith Stiehm. Winship is president of the Writers Guild of America East and Stiehm president of its counterpart in the West.

Persons: ”, CAROL LOMBARDINI, Carol Lombardini, she’s, ELLEN STUTZMAN Ellen Stutzman, David Young, Stutzman, ” Stutzman, “, Lombardini, Bob Iger, David Zaslav, Ted Sarandos, Iger, Sarandos, “ Lilyhammer, Max, FRAN DRESCHER Fran Drescher, Drescher, she's, ” Drescher, Michael Winship, Meredith Stiehm, Winship, Stiehm, He's, Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, DUNCAN CRABTREE, Duncan Crabtree, Crabtree, Davis, ” Crabtree, I’d, Krysta Fauria, Damian Dovarganes Organizations: ANGELES, —, Hollywood, Alliance, Television Producers, University of Chicago, Stanford, Writers, Writers Guild of America, AP, WGA, School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Cornell University, Service Employees International Union, United Healthcare Workers, Writers Guild, Disney, Warner Bros . Discovery, Netflix, Warner, HBO, Screen, American Federation of Television, SAG, Associated Press, Yorkers, CBS, PBS, Sesame, AFTRA's, Georgetown, University of California Locations: Hollywood, Lombardini, Boston, Queens , New York, IRELAND, Ireland, Memphis, London, Dallas, Crabtree, Los Angeles

Unions have nowhere near the pull, or members, that they did decades ago, yet something has changed. Fain became president of United Auto Workers this year, but his time with the union began at that then-Chrysler plant in 1994. He vowed to clean up the union and unite members following a wide-ranging scandal that landed two former presidents in prison. The union under Fain has threatened to hit more plants if there is not enough movement from automakers during negotiations. Corporate greed is the problem.”Sean O'Brien, International Brotherhood of TeamstersMuch of what you need to know about Teamsters president Sean O'Brien is right there in his handle for X/Twitter: @TeamstersSOB.

Persons: Shawn Fain, Fain, Fain “, ” Fain, “ We’re, ” Sean O'Brien, Sean O'Brien, James Hoffa, Jimmy Hoffa, Hoffa, O’Brien, O'Brien, ” O’Brien, Fran Drescher, AFTRA Fran Drescher, ”, She's, they're, Drescher, “, —, Television Producers, Michael Winship, Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, WGAE’s, Takeuchi Cullen, ” Meredith Stiehm, Rich Talarico, Peele Organizations: Unions, Hollywood, UPS, United Auto Workers, Chrysler, UAW, General Motors, Ford, Fiat Chrysler, Detroit, Brotherhood, Teamsters, Amazon, Screen Actors, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, SAG, Associated Press, Alliance, Television Producers, Writers Guild of America, WGA, Television, Writers Guild of America East, “, CBS, Writers Guild of America West Locations: Missouri , Michigan, Ohio, Kokomo , Indiana, Boston, Hollywood

☆ Netflix investors voted 3-to-1 against hefty pay packages for top execs including co-CEOs Greg Peters and Ted Sarandos
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Ashley Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Netflix shareholders on June 1 voted against pay packages for top execs totaling up to $109 million. The WGA had urged Netflix investors to reject the pay packages amid the Hollywood writers' strike. Netflix shareholders voted on June 1 by a nearly three-to-one margin against rich 2023 pay packages for the company's top executives, according to a recent company filing. Amid the ongoing Hollywood writers' strike, the Writers Guild of America had called on Netflix investors to reject this year's executive pay raises. The prelim ary results of the advisory vote were in favor of the executive pay plan, the company announced the day of the meeting.

Persons: Ted Sarandos, Greg Peters, Reed Hastings, Meredith Stiehm, Peters Organizations: Netflix, WGA, Hollywood, Morning, Writers Guild of America, Hastings, Comcast

☆ Netflix shareholders withhold support for executive pay package
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

June 1 (Reuters) - Netflix Inc (NFLX.O) shareholders on Thursday withheld their support for the company's executive pay package, in a non-binding vote that followed a call by striking Hollywood writers to reject the proposed 2023 compensation. "While investors have long taken issue with Netflix's executive pay, the compensation structure is more egregious against the backdrop of the strike," wrote Writers Guild West President Meredith Stiehm. Netflix shareholders withheld support for the executive compensation structure for 2023, in a non-binding "say on pay" vote. Last year, the company's executive pay package won support from just 27% of the shareholder votes cast. After last year's vote, Netflix said it made changes including instituting a salary cap for its co-chief executives and a performance-based bonus plan.

Persons: Guild of America West, Meredith Stiehm, Stiehm, Reed Hastings, Ted Sarandos, Greg Peters, Peters, Ari Emanuel, David Zaslav, Dawn Chmielewski, David Gregorio, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Netflix Inc, Guild of America, Guild West, Comcast Corp, Netflix, Hollywood, Endeavor, Warner Bros Discovery, Alliance, Television Producers, SAG, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles

☆ Netflix investors voted against rich pay packages for the company's top execs amid the ongoing Hollywood writers' strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Ashley Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Netflix shareholders on Thursday voted against pay packages for top execs totaling up to $109 million. The WGA had urged Netflix investors to reject the pay packages amid the Hollywood writers' strike. Netflix shareholders on Thursday voted against executive pay packages totaling up $109 million for the company's top leaders, several outlets including the New York Times reported. Amid the ongoing Hollywood writers' strike, the Writers Guild of America had called on Netflix investors to reject this year's executive pay raises. Last year, only 26.9% of voted shares approved the pay packages for Netflix's top executives, which led the company to hold discussions with investors, according to the annual proxy statement.

Persons: Ted Sarandos, Greg Peters, Reed Hastings, Meredith Stiehm, Peters Organizations: Netflix, WGA, Hollywood, Morning, New York Times, Writers Guild of America, Hastings, Comcast

☆ Netflix shareholders reject sky-high executive pay packages
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Netflix shareholders voted on Thursday to reject multi-million dollar pay packages for the company’s top executives including for co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters. Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty ImagesNetflix’s proposed executive pay packages for 2023 included up to $40 million for Sarandos, including base salary, a performance bonus and stock options. Netflix’s board, meanwhile, is able to disregard the results of this “say on pay” vote and approve executive compensation plans in spite of shareholder wishes. The board has already unanimously recommended voting for the pay packages. Last year, just 27% of Netflix shareholders approved of 2022 executive compensation packages.

Persons: Ted Sarandos, Greg Peters, ”, Meredith Stiehm, Frederic J . Brown, Peters, Reed Hastings, Spencer Neumann, David Hyman, Rachel Whetstone Organizations: New, New York CNN, Netflix, Writers Guild of America, Hollywood, WGA, Guild of America, Comcast, Getty, Securities and Exchange Commission Locations: New York, Hollywood , California, AFP

Search resuls for: "Stiehm"

12 mentions found