Last week we said it: the writers’ strike was about to end. Today, Monday, the union spokespersons proudly announce that the agreement reached is historic.
The Hollywood writers’ strike may be coming to an end. After more than 140 days of strike, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) announced on Sunday night that it had reached a “tentative agreement” with major Hollywood studios on wages, working conditions, and other key points.
“We can say with great pride that this is an exceptional agreement, with significant benefits and protections for writers across all sectors,” the WGA negotiating committee wrote in an email sent to its members.
A secret agreement… until it’s signed
The leadership of the WGA stated that the details of the agreement could not be shared until its drafting was completed. Afterward, the writers will have to vote to approve the agreement.
The guild said that its leaders can end the strike as early as Tuesday, once the contract is finalized and sent to the members for voting; the guild will immediately suspend picketing.
The agreement was reached after several nights of negotiations between the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers in the middle and end of last week.
The WGA called the strike for the first time on May 2 after negotiations between the writers and the AMPTP failed. While the WGA was seeking better residual compensation in streaming contracts, the preservation of the writers’ room, and protections regarding the use of AI, the AMPTP opposed these demands.
Writers may be returning to work soon, but without actors, Hollywood productions will likely remain paralyzed.
The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), the union representing around 160,000 members in the entertainment industry, has been on strike since July.
The strikes have forced studios like Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery to make adjustments to their financial forecasts. In July, Netflix estimated that it would have an additional $1.5 billion in cash, while Warner Bros. Discovery lowered its profit expectations by $300 to $500 million for 2023.
