Writers: Producers' offer is 'rollback'

LOS ANGELES , Nov. 29 (UPI) -- Producers put a new offer on the table Thursday, but striking Hollywood writers called the proposal a "massive rollback."

Talks in the writers' strike are in recess until next week, while the Writers Guild of America studies the proposal offered by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. AMPTP called its offer the New Economic Partnership and issued a statement saying it provides for concessions in several areas regarding payment for the use of WGA members' work in new media.

"The entire value of the New Economic Partnership will deliver more than $130 million in additional compensation above and beyond the more than $1.3 billion writers already receive each year," the AMPTP said.

"While we strongly preferred to continue discussions, we respect and understand the WGA's desire to review the proposals," the AMPTP said. "We look forward to resuming talks on Tuesday, Dec. 4. We continue to believe that there is common ground to be found between the two sides, and that our proposal for a new economic partnership offers the best chance to find it."

However, WGA officials issued a statement saying the AMPTP offer "amounts to a massive rollback" for writers.

The statement said the guild presented a comprehensive economic justification for its proposals to the AMPTP Wednesday.

"Our entire package would cost this industry $151 million over three years," the guild said. "That's a little over a 3 percent increase in writer earnings each year, while company revenues are projected to grow at a rate of 10 percent. We are falling behind."

The WGA has been on strike since Nov. 5.