Hopes for a resolution to the 100-day Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike were briefly raised when the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) agreed to negotiate. However, these talks have failed to progress, leaving the strike ongoing.
The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) also stands in solidarity with the WGA, as both unions fight for improved wages and working conditions in the entertainment industry. Despite some willingness from the AMPTP to discuss certain issues, their refusal to address important concerns raised by the writers has cast doubt on an immediate end to the strikes.
The decision by the AMPTP to negotiate surprised many, as they had previously indicated a wait-and-see approach. This drew widespread criticism, but recent developments suggest growing concern among producers, potentially showing progress for the writers and actors.
The WGA has emphasized the importance of discussing writers’ rooms and success-based residuals and securing better opportunities for emerging writers and financial stability for its members. SAG-AFTRA is fighting for similar improvements in treatment and payment, aligning with the writers’ demands for better working conditions in the industry. Both unions understand the need to stand together to achieve their shared objectives.
WGA full statement
Dear Members,
Ellen Stutzman and Tony Segall met with Carol Lombardini and AMPTP staff this afternoon for what Carol stated was a confidential sidebar to discuss resuming negotiations for a new MBA. Topics included—at the AMPTP’s insistence—press blackouts. Also discussed was a potential negotiation protocol and a preview of the issues each side intends to bring back to the table upon resumption.
As of now, there is no agreement on these items, because the AMPTP said they needed to consult with their member studios before moving forward
Our intention after the confidential meeting was to send a simple email to you all letting you know we would get back to you when there was more specific information about resuming negotiations.
However, before the negotiating committee even had a chance to meet, our communications department began hearing from the trades asking for comments on studio-leaked rumors of the contents of the confidential meeting. This is after the AMPTP spent much of the meeting emphasizing the need for a press blackout.
Since the studios are leaking to the press we need to let you know what was said in the meeting.
First, Carol informed us that the DGA deal would be the deal on any pattern issues.
She stated they were willing to increase their offer on a few writer-specific TV minimums – and willing to talk about AI – but that they were not willing to engage on the preservation of the writers’ room, or success-based residuals. She did not indicate a willingness to address screenwriter issues, Appendix A issues, and many of the other proposals that remain on our list.
On behalf of the Guild, Ellen reiterated the expectation that all the fundamental issues over which writers have been striking these past three months would be addressed in this new contract and that no segment of the membership would be left behind.
Ellen made clear that, in addition to a comprehensive response from the AMPTP on our proposals in all work areas, we will need to address issues arising from the strike, including a health care benefit extension and additional plan funding, reinstatement of striking writers, and arbitration of disputes arising during the strike. We will also seek the right for individual WGA members to honor other unions’ picket lines as they have honored ours during this strike.
Carol’s response – something she repeated three times during the meeting – echoes what was written in the AMPTP press statement yesterday: “People just want to get back to work.”
We agree, with the caveat that those conditions that have made writers’ jobs increasingly untenable must first be addressed.
Your committee remains willing to engage with the companies and resume negotiations in good faith to make a fair deal for all writers, even with this early confirmation that the AMPTP playbook continues. But rest assured, this committee does not intend to leave anyone behind, or make merely an incremental deal to conclude this strike.
In solidarity,
WGA Negotiating Committee
Despite the initial negotiation agreement from the AMPTP, a resolution seems far off. The writers and actors remain determined to secure a fair deal that addresses their concerns, and the strike will continue until their demands are met.
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