Writers Guild to Continue Talks with Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers Next Week
After four consecutive days of negotiations, the Writers Guild has announced that they will continue meeting with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) next week. The guild expressed their gratitude for the support and solidarity they have received throughout the process, while also urging members to be skeptical of rumors from third parties and assuring them that the guild will communicate any significant updates.
In a recent communique with its members, the guild revealed that the AMPTP finally responded to their proposals last Friday, 102 days after they had initially walked away from the bargaining table. Both parties continued to exchange proposals throughout the week, leading to the decision to meet again in the coming days.
Earlier today, the WGA West issued a “Call to Action” to its members, identifying media consolidations as one of the root causes of the ongoing strike. The guild urged its members to file public comments with the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice in support of proposed revisions to their Merger Guidelines. These guidelines are designed to guide law enforcement in addressing consolidation in the industry.
The “Call to Action” was issued following the guild’s recent report, which called for increased government regulation of what they referred to as the “anti-competitive practices” of Disney, Amazon, and Netflix. The report accuses these companies of abusing their dominance to disadvantage competitors, increase prices for consumers, and reduce wages for creative professionals.
As negotiations between the Writers Guild and the AMPTP continue, members of the guild will eagerly await further updates and progress in their efforts to secure better terms and conditions in the industry.