WGA chief negotiator changed forward of key negotiations studios

David Young, the veteran chief negotiator of the Writers Guild of America West , has been positioned on medical go away simply weeks earlier than vital talks with Hollywood studios are set to start.

The union mentioned in a press release to members Tuesday afternoon that Young would get replaced by assistant govt Director Ellen Stutzman, who would function lead negotiator for the upcoming bargaining spherical, in accordance with an e-mail considered by the Times.

“Ellen has earned the confidence and full support of the WGAW Board, WGAE Council, and the WGA Negotiating Committee,” the union mentioned. “She will lead a staff with decades of experience negotiating and enforcing the MBA, and organizing and mobilizing members to support the Guilds’ contract campaigns.”

A WGA spokesman was not instantly accessible for remark.

The shock announcement comes at a key second for the WGA, whose management requested members this week to vote on a collection of bargaining targets that may information negotiations set to start March 20.

Studios and producers have been making ready for a doable strike over writers’ compensation within the age of streaming. Many have accelerated productions in a bid to finish writing earlier than the union’s present three-year contract expires on May 1.

Young — who led the union in the course of the 2007-2008 strike that lasted 100 days — is named a troublesome negotiator who’s broadly revered by the union’s membership. It’s unclear what impact his absence can have on the upcoming negotiatons with studios.

“We know we speak for the entire WGAW and WGAE memberships in wishing David a full recovery,” the union mentioned.