WAINSCOTT: Picketers Bring on the Noise

Members of the Writers Guild of America East remain on strike outside Wainscott Studios, protesting the hiring of nonunion workers by the producer of the children's show "It's a Big, Big World." Guild members refused to work for Mitchell Kriegman of Big Big Productions for what they described as less than half of the industry minimum in May, and began picketing when he hired nonunion workers.

According to press releases from the guild, Mr. Kriegman offered to pay $5,000 per episode when $12,000 is the industry minimum. Mr. Kriegman has maintained that production companies pay writers on shows such as "Sesame Street" much less than the guild's minimum, and that higher guild wages are generally not met. The guild began picketing the studio on Aug. 8.

Since then, the production company has made three offers, one as recently as two weeks ago, but all were refused by the guild. Yesterday, Mr. Kriegman maintained that all along his "desire has been to have a deal," and he said that an agreement was near. Mona Mangan, the executive director of the Writers Guild East, said that they are "ironing out some details" of an agreement, but a final compromise might not be near. "It could end in five minutes or it could end who knows when," she said.

On Friday, the 89th day of protest, the picketers on Industrial Road had dwindled to five; in August they numbered about 20 people.

Also gone from the scene was a 15-foot tall inflatable rat. The rat had been on loan from Musicians Local 802. It had to be returned when those workers went on strike at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan last Thursday.

In recent days, a number of complaints about the noise made by the picketers have been filed with the East Hampton Town Police Department - last week alone, police responded to five complaints. A picketer filed a harassment complaint last week when a car pulled up to her chair in the picket line.

Amanda Bell, a guild organizer, said on Friday that picketers have kept the noise "at the same level" since they began, and said that the group "will escalate" if they find it necessary. "We've been fairly careful about noise," Ms. Mangan said. Mr. Kriegman said that the picketers failed to acknowledge the "positive steps" that he and the union have taken in their negotiations.

Recently, one striker read selections from classified ads through a bullhorn: "Three bedroom apartment in pristine condition. . . ." Others yelled and shook tambourines at the occasional passing car.

Mr. Kriegman said that no one at his studio is complaining about the noise, but that his neighbors, Plum TV and WVVH-TV, are "upset" about it. "My heart goes out to everyone in the community that has had to deal with this," he added.

Max Scott, who rents space at LTV Studios, said his work requires that sound be carefully controlled, and that strikers using bullhorns have "completely frustrated" him. He said that the strikers have been "rude" and "belligerent," and speculated that they have been "hired to scream and yell with megaphones."

In the last two months, he has called the police over 20 times and asked the town attorney if there were legal avenues to pursue.

Because the studio is across the road from East Hampton Airport, higher decibel levels are permitted than in other areas. Town code allows for public assembly on public space, even after 7 p.m., when most loud noise is generally prohibited, so the police cannot issue summonses.

Mr. Scott said that he had placed a stereo system outside his studio and "blasted them with bagpipes," but the police told him to turn down the volume.

"We've had some terrible incidents out there," Ms. Mangan said.