American Idol Workers Demand Fair Pay
Looks like American Idol isn't just annoying the fans this year, the workers at Fremantle aren't too happy either. In a press release sent to Vote for the Worst by the Writer's Guild of America West, a claim was filed by a dozen workers alleging that certain companies "owe them unpaid overtime that could total over $500,000". Surprise, surprise, the majority of people filing the complaint worked for FremantleMedia. According to Harsh Reality, a study released last fall by the Writers Guild of America West, reality TV workers report widespread violations of wage and hour laws, including the failure of production companies to pay overtime, provide meal breaks and maintain accurate payroll records. Do the workers on American Idol deserve to be paid for overtime, or is it just a part of being in the TV industry to work long hours? Well, if Fox has made over $200 million off of American Idol, we think that the workers deserve a bigger piece of the pie. For the entire press release, click "read more."
News Release
Contact:
Gregg Mitchell
Ph 323.782.4574
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8, 2008
Reality TV Workers Demand Fair Pay
Workers from Top Shows Take Legal Action to Collect Unpaid Overtime
Los Angeles – A dozen workers from some of TV’s top reality shows, including American Idol, Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?, and American Inventor, today filed a total of 21 claims with the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), alleging that producers of these shows owe them unpaid overtime that could total over $500,000. The majority of the workers filing had worked for FremantleMedia, the international conglomerate that produces American Idol.
“When I got a job on one of the top shows on TV, I knew the hours were going to be long, but I wasn’t ready for the level of exploitation that exists in reality TV,” said Justin Buckles, a former production coordinator who worked on American Idol for three years. “We are asking to be respected as workers, and that the production companies that are making so much money off these shows stop violating our rights and treat us fairly.”
Analysts estimate that American Idol has earned over $200 million in profits for the Fox Broadcast Network. Despite these huge profits, many of the workers – including writers, production assistants, contestant coordinators, craft services personnel, and office workers – work long hours without receiving overtime or being allowed to take proper breaks.
Next, a meeting between the claimants and the companies will be scheduled by the DLSE to determine if each case will receive an official hearing.
“Hopefully the bravery of these people who have taken a stand today will encourage more reality TV workers to come forward and call attention to practices that the entertainment industry can no longer ignore,” said Paul Nawrocki , Assistant Executive Director of the Writers Guild of America, West.
According to Harsh Reality, a study released last fall by the Writers Guild of America, West, reality TV workers report widespread violations of wage and hour laws, including the failure of production companies to pay overtime, provide meal breaks and maintain accurate payroll records. The study found that 88 percent of reality writers work more than 40 hours a week, yet 91% receive no overtime pay. The study also revealed that 73% of respondents work through their meal break at least once a week. Most of the workers polled did not receive any form of health care or pension benefits.
To access photos from today’s press conference at the DLSE, please visit this link.
Photo credit: Writers Guild of America , West
The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) represents writers in the motion picture, broadcast, cable, and new media industries in both entertainment and news. The union conducts numerous programs, seminars, and events throughout the world on issues of interest to, and on behalf of, writers. For more information, please visit: www.wga.org.
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Glad to see the ever expanding social consciousness of VFTW in relation to all things media.
__________________________There the jedi again, spewing garbage. Oh yeah, by the way jackass, it's "sue" not "sew".--kissmyass
If these are the guys responsible for writing Ryan Seacrest's "witty" monoluges, introductions, and segways, then they deserve to be paid less.
__________________________http://notbaio.wordpress.com
Well, what do you think why they had Idol Gives Head? (Hint, hint)
I concur.
Not to nitpick man, but I think you mean segue. A Segway is a self-balancing personal transportation device with two wheels; can operate in any level pedestrian environment. (dictionary.com) Damn homophones. (damn O.C.D.)
The most profitable companies in the country squeeze profits out by squeezing everything they can out of their workforce. The Wal-marts of the world use cheap labor overseas, but also use managers on fixed salaries and hourly workers that work 39.99999 hours per week to get jobs done.
I would expect television shows that require so much behind-the-scenes work to have similar practices. The technical aspects, such as call-in voting and any graphics or video feautres probably are outsourced to India. However, the quick changes from contestant to contestant, the countless hours of rehearsals, the logistics behind these shows are a ton of work. Bad writing jokes aside, think of how quickly they need to turn around recap videos by the end of performance shows and think of how flawless the shows have been so far. We have never had a microphone shut down, or any lighting malfunction. The only problem logistically I can recall is when they had to shuffle David Cook around because of an amp malfunction, but even that was done in little time and without too many problems.
The last thing American Idol needs is their workers to go on strike - to let their cash cow that brings in 24-31 million viewers per episode and ad revenue to match - go down in flames because their production staff walks out on them. Pay up, Idol. You can replace tools like Ryan Seacrest and angry Brit judges are on every show now, so it would be easy to kick $40 million Cowell to the side (and don't get me started on how bland Randy and Paula are), but you have to admire how smoothly a live show like Idol has been for seven seasons and such consistency is irreplaceable. PAY UP!
This isn't surprising. I hope all those employees get everything they deserve.
__________________________http://www.winzy.com/jesslag
Yes, all jokes aside, everything you say is 100% true. These people work hard and do a fabulous job; they deserve fair compensation and treatment.
It's awesome and scary at the same time that Idol-related controversies are being press-released through us. It shouldn't be that we're the first and only ones who believe what people are saying, but it seems to be becoming that way.
__________________________"Whoever said that nothing is impossible never tried slamming a revolving door."
All of the jobs you mentioned have nothing to with writing. Now if the techs, stage hands and handlers where issuing this press release I'd be more supportive.
Reality shows make their money out of misery. Yep, we get to see some people succeed but it is always at the expense of others and losing moments are typically more memorable than winning ones (seasons later I can still vividly remember Sarah Mather's outta here can't-be-fucked performance of Get Ready).
TV production companies are some of the worst employers in the world. And those who make reality TV are the worst of the worst.