WGA Holds Weekend Discussions with Studio CEOs Following Unsuccessful Friday Negotiations

(Updated with WGA statement) The Writers Guild and studio executives were hard at work on Friday night, trying to reach a deal to end the strike. However, it seems they haven’t quite reached an agreement yet. The third day of direct talks between the WGA negotiating committee and the heads of Disney, NBCUniversal, Netflix, and Warner Bros Discovery ended without a tentative agreement for a new three-year contract. While they were able to find common ground on some issues, they have yet to find a solution that satisfies everyone on matters like AI and minimum staffing levels for writers rooms. However, there is hope that they will reconvene over the weekend to continue negotiations. The determination to reach a deal before the Jewish holiday is driving the urgency to resolve the strike. After 100 days of no talks, the fact that the CEOs have been directly engaged this week is a step forward. The stalemate is frustrating for those involved and for the entire Los Angeles County, which has been economically impacted by the strike. However, it’s not surprising given the complexity of transforming labor relations in the entertainment industry. The strike has had a significant financial impact, not only on entertainment workers but also on other industries. The box office is expected to hit a low point this weekend, and California is estimated to suffer a $5 billion blow from the strikes. The strike is approaching its 144th day, and it’s becoming one of the longest in history. SAG-AFTRA, which will need to negotiate their own deal with the studios, has been on strike for 71 days.