The suds flow, strike or no strike

LA Times~December 31, 2007~Calendar Section

Lynn Smith’s December 31, 2007 article entitled “The Suds flow, strike or no strike” reports on the status of soap opera writers. According to Smith, some daytime soap writers are contemplating returning to work for fear of losing their jobs-being replaced by scab writers as in the 1980’s- or for” the survival of the soap genre altogether”. Soap Operas create special situations in regards to strikes for instance: Issues of residuals-a major area of argument between studios and the WGA (Writers Guild of America) do not apply to soap writers because their shows hardly ever have reruns. Several soap writers are exploiting an inactive status called” Financial core”, where the Guild continues to represent you in negotiations, you maintain benefits, and you keep your pension while returning to work. The con of this status is that the writers resign membership and can no longer vote nor run for office within the WGA. Many studios are trying to persuade writers to take this path in order for shows to continue. Many soaps Like General Hospital are down to their last storylines created before the strike and for numerous devoted writers the choice to continue working is not a financial one, but rather a moral one in regards to their beloved soap.

Tone: Informative
Do you think that writers should continue working on soaps or are they betraying the Guild?