After five months of picketing and hard discussions, the writers’ strike is over after leaders of the Writers Guild of America approved the tentative agreement. But for the time being, the actors’ strike is still in effect.
“Today, your Negotiating Committee, the WGAW Board and WGAE Council all voted unanimously to recommend the agreement,” the guild confirmed in a statement that the strike would cease in full at 12:01 a.m. PT on September 27 (via Deadline).
The statement furthered, “It will now go to both Guilds’ memberships for a ratification vote. Eligible voters will receive ballot and materials for the vote, which will take place from October 2nd to October 9th.”
The new deal addresses many of the concerns the writers were on strike about, including residuals, protections against AI, and data transparency. It spans from September 25, 2023, through to May 1, 2026.
The WGA informed its members on Tuesday that it had negotiated a new residual based on viewership. As a result, writers will receive a bonus for streaming projects that are watched by 20% or more of the domestic subscribers of the service in the first 3 months of release or in the first 3 months of any succeeding exhibition year.
Writers Strike Is Over For Now
In exchange for signing a secrecy agreement, the streamers will also divulge the guild., “the total number of hours streamed, both domestically and internationally, of self-produced high-budget streaming programs (i.e., a Netflix original series).”
The three-year contract also included a minimum pay rise for authors of 5%, 4%, or 3.5%.
They made significant progress in their demands for the minimum number of employees and length of employment in TV writers’ rooms.
Another significant concern raised by the WGA demands was the employment of AI in scripted programming. According to the rules of the agreement, “AI can’t write or rewrite literary material, and AI-generated material will not be considered source material,” which means that AI-produced content cannot be used to discredit a writer.
In accordance with the revised WGA agreement, instead of splitting the applicable cap, each writer in a writing team will receive pension and health payments up to the relevant cap as though they were a single writer.
On September 24, an agreement was reached with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The SAG-AFTRA strike, which started on July 14 and is still running, is still in effect.
Are you relieved that the writers’ strike is over? Sound off in the comments!
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