After a months-long strike, the Writers Guild of America finally reached a deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
“What we have won in this contract — most particularly, everything we have gained since May 2nd — is due to the willingness of this membership to exercise its power, to demonstrate its solidarity, to walk side-by-side, to endure the pain and uncertainty of the past 146 days,” the WGA negotiation committee wrote in a letter. “It is the leverage generated by your strike, in concert with the extraordinary support of our union siblings, that finally brought the companies back to the table to make a deal.”
The details of the agreement have not yet been disclosed. Still, the WGA shared that the “exceptional,” deal must still be ratified.
I have a packed day of podcast stuff but gonna bang out a video asap explaining the WGA’s tentative agreement & what happens next. Thanks again for everyone’s support, excited to be back on the picket this week along with my fellow SAG members!! let’s goooo ????????✊???? #wgastrong https://t.co/E8hKY2MW93
— Franchesca Ramsey (@chescaleigh) September 25, 2023
Writers have been on strike over pay and work conditions for months and picketing outside several major studios, including Disney, Netflix and Paramount.
At the time, AMPTP responded to the strike directive by stating that it “presented a deal that offered historic pay and residual increases, substantially higher caps on pension and health contributions, audition protections, shortened series option periods, and a groundbreaking AI proposal that protects actors’ digital likenesses.”
The WGA managed to secure increases in royalty payments for streaming content and assurances that artificial intelligence will not infringe on writers’ credits and compensation. A.I. has been a concerning matter for many in the industry, threatening to replace human jobs and talent.
The WGA won. Katori Hall can open up the doors to the Pynk. pic.twitter.com/8nStPS2bSH
— Chelsea Sims (@UmEarth2Chelsea) September 25, 2023
All WGA picketing has now been suspended. However, the deal will not directly impact the strike by SAG-AFTRA, the union representing more than 150,000 actors, who have been striking separately since July 14. SAG-AFTRA will remain on strike until they, too, reach an agreement with the AMPTP .
