WGA files reality complaint

Org continues efforts to organize unscripted skeins

By DAVE MCNARY

The Writers Guild of America West has filed an unfair labor practices complaint with the federal government, alleging that networks and reality show producers are illegally interfering with the Guild's organizing efforts.

The WGA's complaint, filed with the Natl. Labor Relations Board, is the latest salvo fired by the Guild in its ongoing efforts to organize reality shows.

The complaint, announced Wednesday, grew out of the two lawsuits -- since consolidated into one -- filed last year by reality show writers alleging violations of labor laws on overtime, wages and meal periods.

The WGA contends specifically that subpoenas of Guild staff and officers in the discovery phase amount to having "interfered with, restrained and coerced" employees and their right to organize.

"It is illegal for employers to pry into organizing activities," said Jeff Hermanson, the WGA West's director of organizing.

The suits were filed last summer in Los Angeles Superior Court against Fox Broadcasting, ABC, CBS, the WB, TBS, Rocket Science and companies run by reality kingpin Mike Fleiss. Both actions were filed with the assistance of the WGA West and included allegations that writers were required to falsify time cards and work unlimited hours.

Producers have long contended their programs should not be under WGA jurisdiction because the shows aren't scripted.

Guild has said it has over 1,000 signed authorization cards from writers, producers and editors who work on 70 reality shows and want to be repped by the WGA West.