Fremantle declaration

Writers urge Fremantle Media Ltd. to recognize their rights and contributions

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

At its annual general meeting in Auckland, New Zealand, The International Affiliation of Writers Guilds passed a resolution urging FremantleMedia Ltd. to adopt standards that recognize and reward the contributions of writers on its game shows, reality programs, light entertainment, and comedy-variety programs.

Member Guilds further called upon the global production company to begin a direct dialogue and to acknowledge that writers deserve the rights and benefits of a writers' guild agreement.

FremantleMedia North America has refused to recognize the right of writers it employs to enjoy union representation. It has failed to provide industry standard benefits to its writers, including those who work on American Idol, the most-watched program on American television.

FremantleMedia Ltd. produces approximately 280 different shows and sells TV series and films in about 150 countries for annual revenues of US$1.8 billion.

The IAWG collectively represents more than 21,000 writers in eight countries.

The full text of the resolution follows

IAWG Resolution on FremantleMedia Ltd.

November 12, 2008, Auckland, New Zealand

WHEREAS; FremantleMedia Ltd. is an international production company that produces approximately 280 different shows and sells TV series and films in about 150 countries; and

WHEREAS; FremantleMedia relies on the contributions of writers throughout the world, including those often called story producers who work on reality and game shows, to create the successful television series that have helped the company produce $1.8 billion in annual revenue; and

WHEREAS; FremantleMedia, through subsidiaries around the world, engages in negotiations with Guilds represented in the IAWG and employs Guild members; and

WHEREAS; the Writers Guild of America, West has found that FremantleMedia North America has refused to recognize the right of writers it employs to enjoy union representation, and has failed to provide industry standard benefits to its writers, including those who work on the most-watched program on American television, American Idol; 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 the conditions through collective action, mutual support and common representation internationally; now therefore, be it

RESOLVED; that the IAWG calls on FremantleMedia to engage in a direct dialogue with IAWG member guilds, on an international level, to recognize and adopt standards that recognize and reward the contributions of writers in all countries; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED; that the IAWG urges FremantleMedia North America to recognize all writers, including, but not limited to, writers of game shows, reality programs, light entertainment, and comedy-variety, as writers who deserve the rights and benefits of a writers' guild agreement.

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