http://today.reuters.com/news/newsAr...WRITERS-DC.XML
Reality TV writers sue Fox, show producer
Wed Aug 24, 2005 6:31 PM ET
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A group of writers has sued the Fox television network and the producer of reality programs such as "Trading Spouses," claiming they violated labor laws by forcing the writers to submit fake time cards, skip meals and work in "sweatshop conditions."
The suit, made public on Wednesday, is part of a broader effort by the Writers Guild of America to organize writers in the booming field of reality TV and follows a similar action filed last month against four other networks and producers.
"Things have become so bad that these renegade employers aren't even complying with minimum standards," Tony Segall, an attorney for the writers, told Reuters.
The suit names eight plaintiffs and seeks class-action status to represent all writers in the reality genre, he said.
Segall said as many as 1,000 reality writers had signed cards seeking representation by the Writers Guild. He said reality show writers had not organized primarily because the genre was relatively new and many the producers were not a party to union contracts.
Spokesmen for Fox and the producer, Rocket Science Laboratories, declined to comment, citing company policy.
The suit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court and claims Rocket Science, producer of seven series including "Joe Millionaire" and "Renovate My Family," forced the writers to work more than 40 hours a week and turn in fake time cards, then failed to pay overtime, thereby violating California labor laws.
The suit also alleges Rocket Science did not provide itemized wage statements and did not allow meal periods for the employees, which also violated state regulations.
"I spent almost my entire waking time at work," said Zachary Isenberg, who wrote for "Renovate My Family" and claims to have spent as much as 120 hours a week on the job.
"The conditions in this industry resemble sweatshops," the suit said.
Co-plaintiff Victoria Dew said her writing team spent long hours crammed into a small loft with heat-generating computers running constantly, skylights without shade from the sun and no air conditioning.
The suit seeks unpaid wages, overtime premiums, interest and punitive damages. Fox was named as a defendant because it oversaw the shows and aired them on its network.
A dozen writers with the backing of the Writers Guild filed a similar suit in July against CBS, ABC, the WB and TBS.
Fox is a unit of News Corp Ltd.. CBS is a unit of Viacom Inc.. ABC is a unit of The Walt Disney Co.. TBS is part of Time Warner Inc. and the WB is a venture of Time Warner of Tribune Co..
