Another WGA Official Ousted

The Writers Guild of America, West, fired communications chief Cheryl Rhoden after nearly 20 years on the job as the union continued an extensive shake-up in its executive ranks.

Rhoden, an assistant executive director, was ousted this week after clashes with interim Executive Director David Young, two people familiar with the matter said.

Young declined to comment. In a statement, the guild said: “We wish Cheryl the best with her future endeavors.”

Rhoden also declined to discuss her departure, saying in a statement: “I love writers. For going on 20 years it has been an honor to work on their behalf.”

Rhoden, who raises horses, added: “For myself, I’m going to take some time off to smell the horses.”

Her exit is the latest in a string of high-level departures at the guild, which ousted its top administrator, John McLean, in September in a push by newly elected leaders to negotiate more aggressively with studios and step up organizing efforts.

In November, the guild ousted General Counsel and Deputy Executive Director Marshall M. Goldberg. Strategic planning head Greg Bernstein recently resigned.

The board replaced McLean with Young, the union’s former director of organizing. Since taking the job on an interim basis, the former Teamsters official has created controversy within the 9,500-member guild for adopting the kind of disruptive protest tactics traditionally used by blue-collar unions.

Rhoden joined the guild in 1987, after serving as special assistant in the Los Angeles County assessor’s office and working for the late U.S. Sen. Alan Cranston, a California Democrat. At the guild, Rhoden oversaw media relations, special events and the organization’s publications. Her firing stunned current and former colleagues.

“This is very upsetting,” said former guild President Daniel Petrie Jr. “The guild lost a terrific servant.”