by Dan J Kroll

Posted Wednesday, April 23, 2008 11:53:37 PM

"During our 100-day strike, the extraordinary solidarity you demonstrated on the picket lines and the courage and dedication with which you committed yourselves to our cause were not only an inspiration but also the key to making our actions successful," the Guild said in its statement. "Yet among the many there were a puny few who [...] consciously and selfishly decided to place their own narrow interests over the greater good."

THE WRITERS' STRIKE

Soap fans around the globe counted on soapcentral.com to cover the Writers Guild of America's strike and its impact on daytime television. Here is archived coverage of our news coverage of the strike. STRIKE ENDS WGA members vote to end strike Guild blasts fi-core members THE ISSUES Why was there a strike? REACTION Soap scribes affirm union solidarity Strikers lash out at opinion columnist Y&R scribes deny "scabbing" THE IMPACT Writer discusses strike's toll Suddenly, soaps are hot Picketer pens book on how to be a soap scribe Show's entire writing staff fired

The few referenced by the WGA are union members who opted to go financial core, or "fi-core." The financial core clause was created to allow striking union members to return to work in the event that the were being adversely affected by the lack of a paycheck during a strike. According to the Guild, 21 members opted for financial core status during the strike. Members who invoked this clause in their membership were able to return to work and still retain certain benefits afforded to them by their union members.

Taking financial core status, however, does not come without its detriment. Fi-core members cannot run for office in the union nor can they vote in any of the Guild's elections. Additionally, fi-core members are barred from attending any Guild meetings and other events. They are also unable to participate in the Writers Guild Awards.

Those who opted for financial core status "must be held at arm's length by the rest of us and judged accountable for what they are - strikebreakers whose actions placed everything for which we fought so hard at risk," the WGA wrote.

The WGA has also filed for arbitration against ABC and Corday Productions, the production company of Days of our Lives. The Guild claims that the companies violated the Guild's strike termination agreement by retaining writers hired during the writers' strike.