Tentative Agreement Reached Between Writers Guild and Hollywood Studios, No Resolution for Striking Actors Yet

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Union representatives and Hollywood studios have come to a preliminary agreement to conclude an unprecedented screenwriters’ strike that has lasted almost five months. However, no similar accord has been finalized for actors who are also on strike.

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) disclosed the tentative agreement through a joint communique with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), the organization that acts on behalf of studios, streaming services, and production companies during negotiations.

In an email disseminated to its members, the WGA stated, “A provisional agreement has been established with the AMPTP, thanks to the unwavering unity among WGA members and the exceptional backing from our union brethren who stood with us on the picket lines for over 146 days.”

Subject to approval by the guild’s board and general membership, the three-year contractual agreement was reached after an intense five-day negotiation session between the WGA and AMPTP.

A more detailed message from the guild circulated on social media instructed writers that the strike was not yet officially terminated. Members were told not to return to work until further notice, although picketing was halted effective immediately.

While the specifics of the agreement have not been publicly disclosed, it should be noted that the last such agreement, reached in 2008, garnered approval from more than 90% of WGA members.

The tentative agreement was reached just five days before the strike would have set a record for being the longest in WGA history, as well as the longest Hollywood strike in over 70 years.

Due to this agreement, network talk shows like NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” are anticipated to resume broadcasts within the next few days.

However, the labor dispute is far from over. Conversations have not yet recommenced between the studios and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), leaving crew members without employment for the time being.

In a statement, SAG-AFTRA conveyed their congratulations to the WGA for achieving a preliminary agreement with the AMPTP after 146 days of unwavering determination and unity on the picket lines. While the actors’ union is keen to review the tentative agreement between the WGA and AMPTP, they emphasized their own commitment to secure appropriate conditions for their members.

Talks aimed at resolving the writers’ strike resumed last Wednesday for the first time in a month. High-profile CEOs, including Bob Iger of Disney, Ted Sarandos of Netflix, David Zaslav of Warner Bros. Discovery, and Donna Langley of NBCUniversal, were reportedly directly involved in the negotiations.

Remarkably, the agreement was achieved without the intervention of federal mediators or governmental authorities, which had been a requirement during previous strikes.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom both issued statements praising the agreement and expressing hope that a similar resolution could be reached soon for the actors.

Approximately 11,500 members of the Writers Guild of America initially went on strike on May 2nd over various issues including compensation, the size of writing teams, and the role of artificial intelligence in script creation. Actors, who have their own set of concerns, joined the writers in striking in July but have not yet resumed negotiations with their respective union.

The strike had immediate consequences for the entertainment industry, sending numerous television shows and movie productions into hiatus. This included late-night talk shows, forthcoming seasons of popular series, and major films. Recently, writers had also been picketing against shows that were attempting to circumvent strike regulations.

The co-occurring strikes represent a pivotal juncture for Hollywood as it grapples with transformations induced by technological advancements, ranging from the radical shift towards streaming services to the emerging role of artificial intelligence in the industry.

This walkout is the writers’ first since 2007 and their longest since 1988. Over two months into the strike, they were joined by approximately 65,000 striking film and television actors, marking the first collective action of its kind since 1960.

Initial outreach for resuming negotiations occurred in August, but those discussions were brief, sporadic, and yielded no significant progress, leading to a month-long hiatus before talks eventually resumed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Writers Guild and Hollywood Studios Tentative Agreement

More about Writers Guild and Hollywood Studios Tentative Agreement

• Writers Guild of America Official Statement
• Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers Official Website
• SAG-AFTRA Official Statement on WGA Agreement
• NBC News Coverage of the Hollywood Strikes
• Previous Writers Strikes: A Historical Overview
• Industry Impact of the Hollywood Strikes
• Technological Advances and Hollywood Labor Disputes
• Timeline of the 2023 Hollywood Writers Strike
• Statements from CEOs Involved in Negotiations
• California Governor Gavin Newsom’s Statement on the Strike