Members of the Hollywood writers union are celebrating a new deal with a 5 percent raise, streaming bonuses and AI protections as they return to work.
The boards of directors of the Eastern and Western branches of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) both voted to accept a new agreement and subsequently declared that the strike had ended and writers could work freely as of 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.
Writers still have to vote to ratify the contract themselves, but lifting the strike will allow them to work during that process, the Writers Guild told members in an email.
Hollywood actors continue to strike, talks are not yet in sight, and writers are now being encouraged to show solidarity with actors.
The three-year agreement includes significant achievements in the key areas the authors had fought for: compensation, tenure, staff size and control over the use of artificial intelligence.
Members of the Writers Guild of America demonstrate outside Paramount Pictures on May 3
The authors still have to vote to ratify the treaty themselves, but lifting the strike will allow them to work during that process
Actors Jack Black (left) and Bob Odenkirk join protesters outside Paramount Pictures Studio in Los Angeles on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, as the actors’ strike continues
Under the agreement, the new contract increases base wages by 5 percent in the first year, 4 percent in the second year and 3.5 percent in the third year.
The guild also said that the residual base, the amount of compensation paid to writers for reruns, syndications, etc., will also increase, but at a smaller rate.
A sticking point in the negotiations was the emergence of streaming platforms, with authors not receiving a fair amount of residual payments if their show attracted large numbers of viewers.
Now the WGA has managed to negotiate a system that allows writers to be fairly compensated, while also sharing audience data with the guild, which was a key issue.
The WGA also has regulations governing studios and their use of artificial intelligence, including that AI cannot write or rewrite literary material.
The WGA Negotiating Committee said: “The WGA has reached a preliminary agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on a new three-year minimum basic agreement.”
“On September 26, the Negotiating Committee, WGAW Board of Directors and WGAE Council voted unanimously to recommend the agreement.
“It will now be submitted to the memberships of both guilds for a ratification vote.” Eligible voters can vote Oct. 2-9 and will receive ballots and confirmation materials when voting begins.
“The WGAW Board of Directors and the WGAE Council also voted to lift the injunction and end the strike on Wednesday, September 27 at 12:01 a.m. PT/3:01 a.m. ET.
“This allows the authors to resume their work during the ratification process, but does not affect the membership’s right to make a final decision on treaty approval.”
The authors still have to vote to ratify the treaty themselves, but lifting the strike will allow them to work during that process
Meredith Stiehm, president of the Writers Guild of America West, demonstrates outside the Paramount Pictures studio on Monday, May 8, 2023, in Los Angeles.
Disney CEO Bob Iger, left, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos and Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav make up a large part of the alliance of film and television producers
Thousands of film and television writers laid down their pens in early May over demands such as better pay, higher rewards for producing hit series and protection from artificial intelligence.
They have picketed offices like Netflix and Disney for months and were joined by striking actors in mid-July, leaving normally busy Hollywood lots nearly empty in a dramatic show of force.
Five days of intense discussions between the guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents the studios, culminated Sunday.
With hundreds of film and television shoots secured, it could then be months before Hollywood clears the logistical logjam and can fully get back to work.
Actors picketed outside Netflix on Tuesday, along with members of the WGA who were there in support.
“Our strike is over.” “But the fight continues until the actors get their deal,” said WGA member Vinnie Wilhelm.
“Without the support of the actors, we wouldn’t have gotten the deal we got.”
The two sides have disagreed over issues of pay, the size of the writing team on shows and the use of artificial intelligence in the creation of scripts.
The strike began in early May when writers expressed concerns about wages, staffing and other issues
Authors were advised not to return to work until specifically requested to do so by the Guild
The agreement, which still requires the approval of union members, was reached on Sunday evening after five days of lengthy negotiations.
Three executives have come to embody the AMPTP: Disney CEO Bob Iger, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, and Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos.
The strike had lasted 148 days and was the WGA’s second-longest strike in history.
Union members must now vote on ratifying the new contract. A referendum is scheduled to take place between October 2nd and 9th.
Late-night talk shows that were among the first to shut down after writers crashed May 2 will likely be the first to resume.
There are currently no discussions taking place between the actors’ union SAG-AFTRA and the studios.
That means tens of thousands of actors are still on strike – meaning shows without actors may be one step closer to airing, including chat shows.
The actors’ union has largely taken a less passionate approach than the WGA.