The Hollywood writers strike, which lasted for months, officially ended on early Wednesday. This came after union leaders endorsed a proposed contract agreement with Hollywood studios, paving the way for a ratification vote by union members.
The strike began on May 2 and was called off at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday. However, it remains uncertain how many writers will actually return to work, as some may still support the SAG-AFTRA picket lines. The WGA negotiating committee has encouraged writers to continue supporting the striking actors.
“This (end of the WGA strike) allows writers to return to work during the ratification process, but does not affect the membership’s right to make a final determination on contract approval,” the Writers Guild of America negotiating committee wrote in a message to union members on Tuesday. “There will be meetings for current members this week before the ratification vote begins.”
The ratification vote by the approximately 11,500 members of the WGA is scheduled to take place from October 2-9.
Over 1,000 WGA members gathered on Wednesday night at the Hollywood Palladium to celebrate the agreement. The Hollywood Reporter reported that key members of the negotiating team received thanks and multiple standing ovations.
The proposed three-year contract agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) was announced on Sunday night after five consecutive days of negotiating sessions. Some of these sessions were attended by the “Gang of Four” group of top studio executives, including Netflix’s Ted Sarandos, Disney’s Bob Iger, Universal’s Donna Langley, and Warner Bros/Discovery’s David Zaslav.
With the endorsement of the deal by the WGA’s East Coast and West Coast branches on Tuesday, the union released the first detailed overview of the agreement. The agreement includes stepped increases in minimum salaries, with a 5% increase upon ratification, 4% in May 2024, and 3.5% in May 2025. It also includes increases in health and pension contributions.
The proposed contract also imposes restrictions on studios’ use of artificial intelligence (AI), preventing AI from writing or rewriting literary material and ensuring that AI-generated material cannot undermine a writer’s credit.
The proposal also introduces a new residual formula for streaming programs that increases pay for particularly successful shows or films. If a program is viewed by 20% or more of a service’s domestic subscribers within the first 90 days of release or in any subsequent exhibition year, the show or film receives a bonus equal to 50% of the fixed domestic and foreign residual.
Furthermore, the proposed contract includes pay increases for writers employed on TV series and guarantees employment for a specific number of writers based on the number of episodes being produced.
A full summary of the contract proposal prepared by the WGA can be found at wgacontract2023.org/the-campaign/summary-of-the-2023-wga-mba.
In mid-July, SAG-AFTRA actors’ union joined WGA members on picket lines, bringing all production to a halt.
Now that the WGA strike has been resolved, negotiations are expected to shift to actors, possibly using the writers’ contract proposal as a template for certain issues. However, actors are seeking steeper salary increases. There is no official word on any planned resumption of negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP.
The actors’ union announced that its leaders would meet with AMPTP on Monday for the first time in months.
“SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP will meet for bargaining on Monday, Oct. 2. Several executives from AMPTP member companies will be in attendance. As negotiations proceed, we will report any substantive updates directly to you,” SAG-AFTRA posted on X on Wednesday evening.
Actors were back on the picket lines outside Hollywood studios on Wednesday morning. The union urged its members to join them in fighting for a fair industry on social media.
Earlier, AMPTP reached a contract agreement with the Directors Guild of America.
The WGA negotiating committee commended union members for their commitment during the lengthy work stoppage.
“What we have won in this contract — most particularly, everything we have gained since May 2nd — is due to the willingness of this membership to exercise its power, to demonstrate its solidarity, to walk side-by-side, to endure the pain and uncertainty of the past 146 days,” the WGA negotiating team wrote in a message to union members on Sunday night. “It is the leverage generated by your strike, in concert with the extraordinary support of our union siblings, that finally brought the companies back to the table to make a deal.
“We can say, with great pride, that this deal is exceptional — with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of the membership.”
The major networks’ flagship late-night talk shows, including NBC’s “The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon,” CBS’ “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” and ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” are expected to be among the first entertainment shows to resume production. Bill Maher also announced the return of his show on HBO.
The news of the WGA agreement was praised by local leaders and even President Joe Biden, who commended both sides for reaching a tentative deal. He emphasized the importance of collective bargaining and fair treatment for all workers.
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