‘House of Payne’s’ Former Writers Plan to Picket Tyler Perry’s Studio Opening - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 10-02-2008, 10:30 PM

Former writers of TBS’ “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne,” along with supporters of the Writers Guild of America, will picket the opening this weekend of Mr. Perry’s new studio in Atlanta.

Kellie Griffin, Christopher Moore, Teri Brown-Jackson and Lamont Ferrell allege they were fired from “Payne” after a six-month union-organizing campaign with the WGA.

The allegation has spurred the WGA to file charges with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging that Mr. Perry’s House of Payne LLC “unlawfully fired four writers in retaliation for their union activity” and “the company bargained in bad faith with the guild, which is seeking to negotiate a contract covering the writers on Perry’s cable television series ‘House of Payne’ and ‘Meet the Browns.’”

According to the writers and the WGA, Mr. Perry refused to sign a contract that would give the writers healthcare, pensions and residuals. On Tuesday, the writers said, they were fired via conference call.

“We’re asking all those who had planned to attend the opening of Tyler Perry’s new studio not to cross our picket line,” Mr. Moore said. “It’s very disheartening considering that this is a studio run by African-Americans. What Tyler Perry is essentially saying to us is that ‘you’re black and there’s not a lot of opportunities for you so you’ll take what I give you’ – whether it’s fair or not.”

"It is unfortunate that the WGA has stooped to injecting race into a contract negotiation. Not only have they misrepresented the facts, they have done a disservice to their members," Matt Johnson, Mr. Perry's attorney, said.

Mr. Johnson said four of seven staff writers for "Meet the Browns" were fired due to the quality of their work and House of Payne, LLC is continuing to work with the WGA to negotiate a contract with the remaining staff writers.

"Instead of continuing to negotiate the contract of their members in good faith, the WGA’s Hollywood-based leadership decided to go to the media with a racially inflammatory press release attacking a man who employs over 300 Atlantans, the majority of whom are African- American," he added.

http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/10/h...er_writers.php

needhelp · 10-08-2008, 11:14 AM

If you are not doing your job what do you think is going to happen. If you are then it would not be a problem.

TJL · 10-08-2008, 04:14 PM

So they were using non-union writers on that show?

10-02-2008, 10:30 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,108	‘House of Payne’s’ Former Writers Plan to Picket Tyler Perry’s Studio Opening Former writers of TBS’ “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne,” along with supporters of the Writers Guild of America, will picket the opening this weekend of Mr. Perry’s new studio in Atlanta. Kellie Griffin, Christopher Moore, Teri Brown-Jackson and Lamont Ferrell allege they were fired from “Payne” after a six-month union-organizing campaign with the WGA. The allegation has spurred the WGA to file charges with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging that Mr. Perry’s House of Payne LLC “unlawfully fired four writers in retaliation for their union activity” and “the company bargained in bad faith with the guild, which is seeking to negotiate a contract covering the writers on Perry’s cable television series ‘House of Payne’ and ‘Meet the Browns.’” According to the writers and the WGA, Mr. Perry refused to sign a contract that would give the writers healthcare, pensions and residuals. On Tuesday, the writers said, they were fired via conference call. “We’re asking all those who had planned to attend the opening of Tyler Perry’s new studio not to cross our picket line,” Mr. Moore said. “It’s very disheartening considering that this is a studio run by African-Americans. What Tyler Perry is essentially saying to us is that ‘you’re black and there’s not a lot of opportunities for you so you’ll take what I give you’ – whether it’s fair or not.” "It is unfortunate that the WGA has stooped to injecting race into a contract negotiation. Not only have they misrepresented the facts, they have done a disservice to their members," Matt Johnson, Mr. Perry's attorney, said. Mr. Johnson said four of seven staff writers for "Meet the Browns" were fired due to the quality of their work and House of Payne, LLC is continuing to work with the WGA to negotiate a contract with the remaining staff writers. "Instead of continuing to negotiate the contract of their members in good faith, the WGA’s Hollywood-based leadership decided to go to the media with a racially inflammatory press release attacking a man who employs over 300 Atlantans, the majority of whom are African- American," he added. http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/10/h...er_writers.php
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10-08-2008, 04:14 PM	#3
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,591	So they were using non-union writers on that show?
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10-08-2008, 11:14 AM	#2
needhelp Member First Time Poster Join Date: Oct 08, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 1	If you are not doing your job what do you think is going to happen. If you are then it would not be a problem.