Title: Writers Guild of America Reaches Tentative Agreement, Potential End to 146-Day Strike
Subtitle: Historic Labor Dispute on Verge of Resolution as Writers and Studios Agree on New Contract
September 26, 2023
After weeks of intense negotiations, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the labor group representing studios and streamers have reached a tentative deal on a new contract, marking a significant breakthrough that could bring an end to the 146-day writers strike.
Late Sunday night, the WGA emailed strike captains and informed all members about the tentative agreement. According to the message, the new 2023 MBA (Minimum Basic Agreement) has been agreed upon in principle, pending the finalization of the contract language. The WGA describes the deal as exceptional, with meaningful gains and protections for writers in all sectors of membership.
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) confirmed the news in a joint statement with the WGA, expressing their satisfaction with the provisional three-year agreement. The deal, affecting approximately 11,500 WGA members, will be subject to ratification by the union’s members before taking effect.
Details of the agreement have not been made public yet, as the union will present them to its members in the coming days. The WGA’s negotiating committee is scheduled to vote on the deal, followed by the WGA West’s board and the WGA East’s council. If approved, the strike will end at a date and time to be determined, pending ratification.
During the negotiations, both parties made last-minute concessions, leading to an optimistic atmosphere among writers. Studio-side sources familiar with the progress mentioned positive developments on issues like artificial intelligence, TV staffing, and residual compensation tied to streaming show performance.
The news of the tentative agreement was met with celebration in Hollywood. Filmmakers attending the Burbank International Film Festival’s awards gala erupted in cheers upon hearing the announcement.
The strike, which began on May 2, had a significant impact on the industry, with filming in Los Angeles declining by 29% between April and June 2023 compared to the previous year. Numerous projects, including popular shows like “Stranger Things,” “Loot,” “Blade 2,” and “Thunderbolts,” were affected or put on hold.
However, the agreement remains tentative until the WGA’s leadership votes to lift the restraining order, and its members participate in the ratification vote. Given the duration of the strike, the stakes and expectations are high. The WGA leadership will work diligently to persuade their members of the deal’s benefits.
Negotiations for the new contract started on March 20, with subsequent setbacks and standstills. Writers advocated for greater compensation in the streaming era, including higher wages, regulation of mini-rooms, and residuals tied to show performance. Studios and streamers sought to control labor costs. The compromises reached are still unknown, leaving observers curious about the exact nature of the deal.
The WGA’s negotiations were led by Ellen Stutzman, assistant executive director of the WGA West, while Carol Lombardini, the AMPTP’s chief negotiator, represented the studios and streamers.
Now, it’s up to the WGA members to determine whether the agreement addresses the workplace issues that have driven the strike. The ratification vote date is yet to be announced, and industry insiders eagerly await the outcome, hoping for a resolution to this historic labor dispute.