I spent four hours at WGA headquarters this afternoon, working with a crew of about 20 on new picket signs for the rally on Tuesday. (1 p.m. at the intersection Hollywood and Ivar. A perfect outing with visiting family members. More info [here](http://wga.org/subpage_member.aspx?id=2586).)
I was on duct tape duty, wrapping sticks before the signs get stapled. ((Note that way back on day one, picket signs came “raw,” and it was up to individual picketeers to wrap the handles. Now they come pre-wrapped. While I’d like the strike to be over, part of me is curious what other innovations might occur.)) Joining me were [Craig Mazin](http://artfulwriter.com), [Al Gough](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0332184/) and [Robin Swicord](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842523/), among many other writers who I can’t link to because I didn’t get their last names.
Interestingly, the topic of the [re-opened negotiations](http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117976211.html?categoryid=2821&cs=1) came up for less than five minutes. I wouldn’t characterize that as pessimism, but rather pragmatism. As the WGAw president said in the member email…
Now it is equally important that we now prove that good news won’t slow us down, either. We must remember that returning to the bargaining table is only a start. Our work is not done until we achieve a good contract and that is by no means assured. Accordingly, what we achieve in negotiations will be a direct result of how successfully we can keep up our determination and resolve.
Thus, 3,000 new picket signs. The new ones are cool, very much in keeping with the gray shirts introduced the first week. If it were a battle of logos, the WGA would win. Because this is the official AMPTP logo: 
Wow. It’s…friendly?
Designed by a teenager in the 1970’s?
I won’t get a chance to carry one of the new signs on Tuesday, because I’ll be out of town for Thanksgiving. But I look forward to reports from readers.