WGA Members Vote to Expel Two Members for Breaking Strike Rules
The recent decision by the Writers Guild of America to uphold the expulsion of two writers accused of writing during the 2023 strike has sparked controversy within the industry. Roma Roth and Edward Drake were both voted out for performing forbidden “writing services” during the 148-day strike. Despite their appeals, the majority of the voting membership supported the board’s decision in a recent tally.
On the other hand, there was a different outcome for writer Tim Doyle, who faced public censure for making an off-color joke on Facebook. The members rejected the censure on a 62%-38% vote, citing concerns about the WGA’s policing of members’ speech. Doyle’s joke, which some interpreted as a reference to lynching, led to internal discussions within the guild about the boundaries of acceptable behavior.
Following the vote, Doyle apologized for the joke and expressed hope that the guild would address the damage done to his reputation. Additionally, writer Julie Bush, who was accused of submitting a “scab script” during the strike, faced disciplinary action from the WGA. Despite her appeal, the members voted to uphold her one-year suspension and lifetime ban from serving as a strike captain.
In response to the decision, Bush expressed gratitude to the members who supported her and indicated her intention to challenge the legality of the WGA’s actions through the Department of Labor and the National Labor Relations Board. Similarly, Roth and Drake, who were also expelled, voiced their disappointment with the outcome and raised concerns about the fairness of the appeals process.
The vote results for the expelled writers were as follows: Roth received 778-639 in favor of expulsion, while Drake received 769-652. Bush’s suspension was upheld with a vote of 745-686, and Doyle’s public censure was overturned by a vote of 915-557.
The WGA’s decision to hold an online vote for disciplinary appeals, in lieu of an annual meeting, has been met with criticism from some members, including Bush, who argue that such a change requires a constitutional amendment. Moving forward, the guild may face further challenges in maintaining transparency and fairness in its disciplinary processes.
