General Hospital: July 2023 Discussion Thread

[John]

RIGHT

But since Soaps are not strike work Fi-Core writers can replace the writers UNTIL the WGA strike is over.

[titan1978]

Can replace is the issue here- just because they can do it doesn’t mean they are not still being scabs.  Or else their WGA contracts would stipulate they could seek a waiver or are covered under strikes differently.

It seems like so many people come at this from the perspective that if the soaps stop production then they end and that’s the worst outcome possible. And it would absolutely be awful for the folks working in that industry and ultimately the fans. But they are hiring scab writers to continue the scripts while actual soap writers are striking. They know their industry is dying. But they are still mostly out on strike and don’t go fi-core because as writers they see the bigger picture and recognize the importance of their union. And if anyone were to be replaced right away by AI scripts it would be soap writers.

People are not out here calling soap actors scabs- they know the score. But the writers certainly are that are still working on the shows. And these striking WGA/SAg-AFTRA can call them scabs anytime they want.

[John]

Yes but Fi-Core writers are allowed to write during the strike for non struck work. Daytime soaps are non struck work.

Oh they can call them scabs but FI-Core is an option that the WGA gives

They give up voting, cant hold office

Still pays dues 

Can write during strikes for non struck work. Daytime soaps are non struck work.

[titan1978]

They are still considered scabs because the WGA is striking. They are not non-struck work for writers. Why would people like Michele Val Jean, who works as a writer in this industry, be on strike right now if writers from daytime were not on strike? Make it make sense.

The issue that seems to be confusing everybody is the actors- they cannot strike, if the production is not shut down they work or are in violation. That is not the same thing as the writers. Those writers are choosing to break the picket line, hence scabs.

[John]

Oh I get it. They are seen as scabs and Im not devaluing any of that. Just was explaning for people who didnt know about fi-core. Saw a lot of that on Twitter tonight

[titan1978]

If they are “allowed”, then why doesn’t the contract grant waivers for daytime writers? The WGA considers them to be scabs. It’s their industry.

[John]

Also WGA only has one contract. SAG has many. One is the TV/Film/Streaming which is currently on strike

The netcode with covers daytime dramas, Variety, talk, news,  Game and Reality shows expires in July of 2024.

 

What should happen is the Netcode contract and the TV/Film/Streaming contracts be combind or at least have both these contracts start and end at the same time

Edited July 26, 2023 by John

[titan1978]

You seem really hung up on a term that has nothing to do with allowing anything. It is a status, and pertains to their demarcation within their union. Their status is fi-core, which means they do not support their union but do enjoy their negoatiated terms. The WGA is not the only Union that uses this term. They could be writing a sh!tty Transformers film right now, it doesn’t just mean soaps. It’s still work that violates the terms of a strike.  Again, if it didn’t, why are soap writers striking?

[John]

No Idea probably WGA only has one Contract

[Contessa Donatella]

I just want to say that people call WGA writers with Fi-Core status scabs. A scab is one who crosses the picket line to work. When the WGA created Fi-Core status they were just legitimizing what had gone on forever, which is that someone wrote the show. I know that there were feuds between writers over the creation of Fi-Core status. People fell out with each other over it. Wish I knew more about that. Now I may not have said anything new. And I will leave you to it. 

[John]

I believe Ronald Regan had something to do with Fi-Core status

[Contessa Donatella]

Okay, what difference is that supposed to make?

[John]

None

Just some context of history is all

[Contessa Donatella]

Great, Cool. 

[titan1978]

Just to clarify, Financial Core as a union status was not created by the WGA. It stems from labor disputes involving non-entertainment unions. It began after court cases that were brought about to ensure that workers were not forced to join a union in order to be employed. It was decided that since they benefit from those union contracts and protections, they must pay fees related to bargaining but are not considered Union members. Contracts in the entertainment industry have the most leeway with this because so many people are willing to cross the picket line, and or work on non-union productions. Which weakens collective bargaining for the whole.