AMPTP and WGA Recess Negotiations, Counterproposal Made
In the ongoing strike between the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), negotiations took place on the first day since the strike began. However, the talks were recessed until next week after the companies presented a counterproposal to the guild’s proposals.
The WGA shared a message with its members following the negotiations, stating that they had received a counterproposal from the AMPTP. The guild will evaluate the offer and provide their response to the AMPTP next week after careful deliberation.
The WGA also emphasized the importance of conducting negotiations without revealing every detail to the public. They stated that more progress can be made without a blow-by-blow description of the negotiations. However, the guild assured its members that they would communicate any significant news when necessary.
Key issues in the 102-day-old strike include pay raises, viewership-based streaming residuals, minimum staffing and guaranteed employment days in the “writers room,” and safeguards against the use of artificial intelligence in scriptwriting.
The strike initially raised hopes for a resolution on August 1 when AMPTP President Carol Lombardini invited the guild’s negotiating committee to resume bargaining. Unfortunately, talks broke off on the same day with the guild accusing the AMPTP of using its “tired anti-union playbook.” The AMPTP responded by stating that their only goal is bringing people back to work and questioning the willingness of the guild to negotiate.
However, hopes were reignited when Lombardini reached out to the WGA again on Thursday to resume bargaining. The guild’s committee expressed readiness to make a fair deal and highlighted the support of their union allies. They expect the AMPTP to respond to their proposals.
Once a tentative agreement is reached, it will take approximately four days for the strike to officially end. This process includes the approval of the contract by the governing bodies of the WGA West and WGA East, as well as ratification by their memberships. Similar timelines were followed during the previous strikes in 1988 and 2007-08.
As the strike enters its fourth month, both sides are eager to find a resolution. The entertainment industry has been significantly impacted by the strike, and an agreement would bring relief to writers, actors, and other workers affected by the ongoing standoff.