The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has reached a preliminary labor agreement with major Hollywood studios, marking a significant step toward ending one of two strikes that have brought film and television production to a halt. The deal, which still needs approval from WGA leadership and union members, is expected to bring an end to the strike that has cost the California economy billions of dollars.
The WGA represents 11,500 film and television writers, and they have described the agreement as exceptional with meaningful gains and protections for writers. The negotiations have been made possible by the solidarity of WGA members and the support of other unions that joined them on the picket lines for over 146 days.
While this settlement is a milestone, it does not mean a complete return to business as usual in Hollywood. The strike by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) actors’ union is still ongoing. The strike by the writers began on May 2 over issues such as compensation, minimum staffing of writers’ rooms, the use of artificial intelligence, and residuals for streaming shows.
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents major studios such as Disney, Netflix, and Warner Bros Discovery, has acknowledged the tentative agreement with the WGA. However, the contract is still in a preliminary stage, and the details will only be shared after the final contract language is received.
The strikes have had a significant impact on the entertainment industry, leading to the shutdown of movie and TV production and affecting various professionals involved in the process. The estimated economic cost of the strikes in California and other production hubs is expected to be at least $5 billion.
The involvement of top industry executives, including Disney’s Bob Iger and Netflix’s Ted Sarandos, has helped break the impasse in negotiations. The aim of these strikes, as in the past, is to ensure that writers and other creative professionals receive their fair share of revenue generated by new forms of distribution, such as streaming services.
While the WGA settlement is a positive development, the studios still need to find a way to resolve the ongoing strike by SAG-AFTRA. The actors’ union is calling for minimum wages, protections against the use of artificial intelligence in place of human performances, and fair compensation for actors in streaming services.
In conclusion, the Hollywood writers’ strike may soon come to an end with the preliminary labor agreement reached between the WGA and major studios. However, the strike by SAG-AFTRA actors’ union continues, and resolving this strike will be the next challenge for the industry.
