The Writers Guild of America reportedly reached a tentative deal with major film and TV studios on Sunday night, signaling a potential close to the nearly five-month-long strike that, coupled with a work stoppage by the SAG-AFTRA union of actors, halted production across much of the industry.
WGA members still must ratify the agreement, but the basics were reached addressing concerns over streaming fees, writers’ room staffing and the use of artificial intelligence.
“We have reached a tentative agreement on a new 2023 MBA, which is to say an agreement in principle on all deal points, subject to drafting final contract language,” WGA’s negotiating committee wrote members in an email, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“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 AMPTP had given the scribes its “last and best offer” on Saturday, and the sides jointly announced they would meet again on Sunday.
The WGA went on strike May 2, after months of negotiations led nowhere. The longest prior writers’ strike lasted for three months in 2007 to 2008. The current one falls just shy of the 1988 record five-month work stoppage.
As recently as late August, the WGA called the studios’ counteroffer “nearly nothing.”
On Sunday, the WGA did not immediately release details, asking members for patience as it worked on the fine print.
“What remains now is for our staff to make sure everything we have agreed to is codified in final contract language,” the WGA said in a statement to members obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. “And though we are eager to share the details of what has been achieved with you, we cannot do that until the last ‘i’ is dotted.”
The WGA also told members to stand down from their picket lines but urged them to join actors on theirs.
The strike by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), the union representing actors and other performers, has been going on since July 14.
But an inked and approved deal will mean writers can get back to work on scripts that have been backed up during their 146-day strike.
The reaction in Hollywood was strong, with celebratory posts from writers as well as SAG-AFTRA and its members, The Hollywood Reporter noted.
“SAG-AFTRA congratulates the WGA on reaching a tentative agreement with the AMPTP after 146 days of incredible strength, resiliency, and solidarity on the picket lines,” the actors’ union said in a statement.
“While we look forward to reviewing the WGA and AMPTP’s tentative agreement, we remain committed to achieving the necessary terms for our members. Since the day the WGA strike began, SAG-AFTRA members have stood alongside the writers on the picket lines. We remain on strike in our TV/Theatrical contract and continue to urge the studio and streamer CEOs and the AMPTP to return to the table and make the fair deal that our members deserve and demand.”
With News Wire Services