The standoff between Hollywood studios and striking writers escalated on Wednesday, following an unsuccessful meeting between union negotiators and studio heads. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) accused the studios of trying to create discord among writers.
In a message sent to WGA members, the union’s negotiating team revealed that union leaders met with representatives from the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), as well as top executives including Disney CEO Bob Iger and Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos.
Union officials had hoped that the meeting would lead to progress in resolving the strike, but instead, they were met with a lecture about the supposed merits of the studios’ single counteroffer.
The WGA message stated, “This wasn’t a meeting to make a deal. It was a meeting to undermine us. That’s why, not even 20 minutes after we left, the AMPTP released a summary of their proposals. Their plan was never to negotiate, but to divide us. That’s their only strategy—to bet on us turning against each other.”
In response, AMPTP officials issued a statement indicating their commitment to ending the strike and praising the benefits of their counteroffer.
The AMPTP’s offer includes the largest pay increase for the WGA in 35 years, with a 5% raise in the first year and additional increases of 4% and 3.5% in the following two years.
The WGA had originally sought a 6% increase in minimums and residual bases in the first year, followed by 5% increases in the second and third years.
Furthermore, the studio offer grants showrunners more authority in staffing the writing room and includes measures to protect writers from the use of artificial intelligence. It also includes increased residuals for streaming programs and a commitment to provide streaming viewership numbers, which the WGA has been pushing for as a basis for compensation.
AMPTP President Carol Lombardini stated, “Our priority is to end the strike so that the creative community can return to their work and the hardships faced by industry workers and businesses can be alleviated.”
In their message to WGA members, union negotiators detailed how the studios’ counteroffer failed to adequately address the issues that led to the strike. They emphasized the high cost of a strike and insisted on comprehensive solutions to the problems these companies have caused in the industry.
The WGA plans to disclose additional details about the studio’s offer and provide a more comprehensive update on the state of negotiations.
The WGA initiated the strike on May 2, and SAG-AFTRA actors joined them on picket lines last month, resulting in a complete halt in production.
The studios have generally called for the WGA and SAG-AFTRA to accept terms similar to those agreed upon by the Directors Guild of America. These terms include a salary increase of approximately 12.5% and a significant boost in streaming residuals, as well as assurances that artificial intelligence will not replace human workers.
Over 3,000 WGA and SAG-AFTRA union members gathered in front of Walt Disney Co.’s Burbank office on Tuesday to show their solidarity.
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