The Writers Guild of America, East and nonfiction TV writers-producers testified on Tuesday at a public hearing, revealing what it is like to work on reality television and calling it as a “high-status sweatshops.”
According to TheWrap, Lowell Peterson, Executive Director of the Writers Guild of America, East, explained how the reality TV show industry works.
“Perhaps worst of all, there is plenty of money in this industry to solve the problems of long hours, low pay, and scant benefits. The television networks that distribute these shows make enormous amounts of money from advertising and from fees they negotiate with cable companies. Unfortunately, audiences and elected officials are simply unaware of the awful working conditions and therefore the TV networks have felt no pressure to make changes.”
Peterson went on to explain that the pressure to deliver shows on time and on budget TV networks makes it difficult for people working on the show to take time off, say no to overtime, or even complain about unsafe working conditions.
“The freelance, gig-to-gig nature of employment also scares APs into keeping their heads down and their mouths shut; after all, if you get a reputation as someone who stands up for your basic rights, you simply won’t get hired for the next gig.””
The public hearing was held by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs’ Office of Labor Policy & Standards (OLPS), alongside the New York City Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) to discuss how thousands of reality TV show workers are being treated in the NYC industry.
Peterson went on to discuss how many employees are working 12 to 14 hours a day and earning less than $15 an hour without any benefits. In addition, it was revealed that production companies would illegally fill in time cards for employees and make them work longer than 8-hours a day and also on the weekend without compensation.
