It appears that not all writers are willing to hold out until networks and studios meet the demands issued by the Writers Guild of America (WGA).
Several WGA soap opera scribes have decided to cross the picket line to keep their jobs, according to Variety, showing the first signs of weakening within the rank-n-file.
“According to several people with knowledge of the situation,” writes Josef Adalian and Dave McNary, “a high-ranking writer-producer on CBS’s ‘The Young and the Restless’ has informed the WGA that he plans to go ‘financial core’ — that is, give up full membership in the guild and withhold the dues spent on political activities in order to continue writing during the strike.” Two other writers for “The Young and the Restless” are following his example.
One writer for the NBC soap “Days of Our Lives” is also considering crossing the picket line.
“This is an internal matter that we choose not to discuss,” guild spokesman Gregg Mitchell commented.
While daytime writers seem to faltering a bit, all other writers are holding fast and sticking with the WGA and seem willing to hang in there regardless of how long, or whatever pressures are placed on them from outside sources.
While there are always dissenting opinions and multiple sides to any dispute, I can tell you that the picket line outside of NBC/Universal yesterday was in good spirits and heavily manned despite the government holiday.