The Writers Guild of America has called for disciplinary actions against four of its members who are accused of violating guild rules during the 2023 strike. Three writers – Edward John Drake, Roma Roth, and Julie Bush – are accused of providing forbidden “writing services” in defiance of union solidarity. Another member, Tim Doyle, is accused of making an inappropriate joke in a Facebook group of fellow writers.
The WGA West board has decided to expel Drake and Roth, the most severe punishment for violating guild rules. Bush has been handed a temporary suspension and a lifetime ban on serving as a strike captain, while Doyle has received a public censure. All four members are appealing the disciplinary actions to the general membership. Three other members, who were not named, were also found guilty of writing during the strike but chose not to appeal.
The appeals will be voted on through an online ballot from May 6-9. In their written appeals, each of the four writers has requested the membership to overturn the board’s decision. They have argued that the process was unfair and have expressed fear of public shaming and the impact on their careers.
Drake, who was working on an independent film during the strike, was accused of engaging in “scab writing” and refusing to cooperate with guild investigators. He has maintained that he made minor adjustments to the script as the film’s director, following guidelines from the Directors Guild of America. The trial committee recommended an 18-month suspension for Drake, but the board decided to expel him.
Roth, a Canadian writer working as a showrunner on a series in Nova Scotia, was accused of breaking stories and revising scripts during the strike. She argued that she had ended her writing contract once the strike began and continued as a non-writing executive producer. Roth also stated that the two writers who testified against her were biased due to personal grievances.
Bush was charged with working for a non-signatory company by submitting a revised pilot script during the strike. She defended herself by saying that the deal was closed before the strike, and the company had promised to become a signatory but later reneged on the agreement.
Doyle faced public censure for a joke on Facebook that some interpreted as a racist depiction of a lynching. He contended that the joke was meant to reference his own anxiety as a writer about the industry’s future. The board defended the public censure, stating that it was necessary to address conduct harmful to guild members’ interests.
The WGA members were encouraged to report instances of strike-breaking during the strike, and the Strike Rules Compliance Committee investigated numerous allegations. The appeals for the disciplinary actions will be decided by the general membership through an online vote.
