[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15334]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA, WEST IN ACTION AGAINST 
                      FREMANTLEMEDIA NORTH AMERICA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 16, 2008

  Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, the most successful and profitable 
television show in this country is ``American Idol'', produced by 
FremantleMedia North America. ``American Idol'' and other 
FremantleMedia productions entertain many millions worldwide with the 
promise of providing an opportunity for young talented people to 
display their abilities and be rewarded for their hard work.
  That is why it is such a shame that FremantleMedia refuses to offer 
the same basic opportunity to its writers and other employees. The 
California Labor Commissioner has recorded claims from ``American 
Idol'' and other FremantleMedia employees totaling more than $300,000 
in unpaid wages and unsafe working conditions. The State Labor 
Commissioner has conducted serious investigations into FremantleMedia 
productions and has even been forced to cite the company for failure to 
pay overtime to their employees.
   Madam Speaker, I have watched ``American Idol'' with my teenage 
daughter on many occasions. I am well aware of its impact on society 
and the enormous profits it generates for Fox Television and its 
producers and advertisers. In 2007, the show allegedly generated over 
$200 million in profits for the Fox network, while FremantleMedia's 
worldwide profits exceeded $1.8 billion.
   Why then, are they unable to pay a fair and equitable wage to its 
employees who provide the written content or other services that make 
these shows so successful? In an April 2008 filing with the California 
Department of Labor Standards, ``American Idol'' employees reported 
working 15-20 hour days, 7 days a week and FremantleMedia avoided 
paying any overtime by declaring that a substantial majority of their 
employees are ``exempt.'' In addition to failing to abide by 
California's wage and hour statutes, Fremantle refuses to offer most of 
their employees access to health coverage. For such a popular and 
profitable show, I find this behavior reprehensible.
   American reality show fans should not be confused. The reality is, 
``reality'' shows are written. The plot lines, the banter between 
personalities, the contests that are at the heart of the shows; all are 
created by talented members of the creative community. These 
individuals should be paid fairly and like other American workers, 
allowed to join a guild to collectively bargain on their behalf.
   Madam Speaker, no one wants to shut ``American Idol'' down. All I am 
asking, all the American people are demanding, is that those talented 
Americans who create content for these vastly profitable enterprises be 
paid fairly with industry-standard benefits and in accordance with 
federal and state laws. We are asking that one of the country's most 
popular and profitable shows treats its employees with the respect and 
dignity they deserve. You can bet that the on-air personalities who 
read the words are paid dearly. It's time that Fremantle allow those 
who put the words in their mouths simply be allowed to be represented 
at the bargaining table.

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