The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is lending its support to the Writers Guild of America West’s “American Idol Truth Tour,” introducing a resolution urging FremantleMedia to improve working standards for writers with the production company.
The “Truth Tour,” co-sponsored by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, seeks to shed light on the unfair working conditions many writers say they are subject to while working on such series as “America’s Got Talent,” “Million Dollar Password” and the ratings juggernaut “American Idol.” Writers for these and other reality series say Fremantle is in violation of many labor regulations under its current practice.
The first stop on the tour will be at the “American Idol” auditions in Daly City, Calif., just south of San Francisco, on July 17 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The WGAW plans to hold a rally in front of San Francisco City Hall on July 15 at 12 p.m., with WGAW President Patric M. Verrone, San Francisco Supervisor Bevan Dufty and former “Idol” production assistant Justin Buckles scheduled to appear.