Exciting News: Writers Guild and AMPTP Reach Tentative Agreement to End Strike! After nearly five months of negotiations, the Writers Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers have finally reached a breakthrough. The stalemate over AI and writing room staffing levels has been untangled, paving the way for a resolution. In a joint statement, both parties announced, “We have reached a tentative agreement on a new 2023 MBA, subject to final contract language.”
Details of the agreement have not been released yet, but the guild promises to share them with its members before the ratification votes. The next steps involve the WGA negotiating committee voting on whether to recommend the agreement to the WGAW Board and WGAE Council for approval. If approved, the strike “restraining order” could be lifted, allowing writers to return to work during the ratification vote. This is a significant development for both the WGA and the studios.
While the strike is technically still ongoing until the votes are completed, all picketing has been suspended. Virtual discussions between the negotiating committees have been productive, addressing issues like AI, staffing, and back-to-work schedules. The studios have also inquired about the writers’ return to work, and it seems a compromise has been reached regarding SAG-AFTRA’s agreement with the AMPTP.
Although it will take a few more days for the strike to be officially over, the end is in sight. Late-night comedy shows and daytime talk shows, which were the first to shut down when the strike began, will be able to return to air almost immediately. However, films and scripted TV shows that didn’t sign Interim Agreements with SAG-AFTRA will remain on hold until their strike is settled.
Now, all attention shifts to ratifying the WGA deal and resolving the actors’ strike, which has been ongoing for 73 days. This news brings relief to Hollywood and the entertainment industry, but the strikes have taken a toll on California’s economy, estimated at around $5 billion.
Stay tuned for more updates from the WGA as they continue to navigate this crucial period.