WGA And AMPTP Finally Get A Tentative Date To End Hollywood Writers’ Strike

After nearly five months of striking, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) has tentatively reached an agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). The strike, which began on May 2, sought better pay, AI regulation, living wages, and residuals from streaming services. The negotiations, involving major corporate CEOs, led to a deal that the WGA proudly considers “exceptional.” However, the deal awaits approval from the WGA’s board and council before it can be fully ratified. While the strike is not officially over, picketing has been suspended, and WGA members are encouraged to support the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.

Solidarity Triumphs

“This was made possible by the enduring solidarity of WGA members and the extraordinary support of our union siblings who stood with us for over 146 days,” the guild said in a statement.

The contract language is still being finalized, but the writers’ guild has indicated that “this deal is exceptional,” implying favorable terms for the guild. The statement asserts that it will provide “meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of the membership.” Among the guild’s demands were improved pay, residuals based on viewership, safeguards against AI, and more.

For context, during the last WGA strike in 2007-2008, a tentative deal was reached on the 96th day, and it took until the 100th day for the strike to officially end.

Next Steps

However, this deal is not yet sealed, as it still requires finalization in contract language. The guild expressed its eagerness to share the complete terms of the agreement but stated that it cannot do so at this time. Once the language is finalized, the WGA’s negotiating committee will vote on whether to recommend the agreement and send it to the guild’s board and council for approval. Subsequently, the board and council will vote on whether to officially authorize the deal.

Should these votes proceed favorably, the same board and council will also vote on lifting the order to end the strike on a to-be-determined date. This would enable guild members to return to work while the ratification vote is ongoing. These crucial votes are scheduled for Tuesday, September 26, at which point the guild will provide a “comprehensive summary” of the deal and its implications for writers.

The guild emphasized that no one should resume work until they receive explicit authorization from the guild. They underscored that the strike is ongoing until such permission is granted. However, they announced the suspension of WGA picketing activities effective today. Additionally, the guild encouraged WGA members to actively support the SAG-AFTRA picket lines, pointing out that Hollywood actors within SAG-AFTRA have been participating in their strike since July.

This marks the first time since 1960 that both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA were on strike simultaneously. It remains uncertain whether video game actors, who were considering striking, will proceed now that the WGA has reached a deal.

Final Thoughts

After nearly five months of striking, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) has tentatively reached an agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). The strike, which began on May 2, sought better pay, AI regulation, living wages, and residuals from streaming services. The negotiations, involving major corporate CEOs, led to a deal that the WGA proudly considers “exceptional.” However, the deal awaits approval from the WGA’s board and council before it can be fully ratified. While the strike is not officially over, picketing has been suspended, and WGA members are encouraged to support the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.