WGA votes to ratify contract, ending one of guild’s longest strikes

The Writers Guild of America voted overwhelmingly to ratify the new contract, officially ending one of the longest labor disputes in Hollywood history.

99% of member states voted in favor of ratification, with 8,435 voting yes and 90 voting against.

In a statement, WGA West President Meredith Steem thanked the leadership team, Strike Captains and WGA staff for their hard work in closing the deal.

“Through unity and determination, we ratified an agreement that provides meaningful benefits and protections for writers from all sectors of our combined membership,” she said. “Together, we were able to accomplish what many said was impossible just six months ago.”

The Motion Picture and Television Producers Alliance, which represents studios in negotiations, congratulated the WGA on ratifying the deal, saying, “This represents meaningful benefits and protections for writers.”

“Getting writers back to work is an important development for our industry,” the studio group said.

The WGA ended its strike on September 27 after the WGA Western and Eastern boards voted to submit a tentative draft agreement to member states for ratification. The voting period began on October 2nd and ended at 1:00 PM Pacific Time on Monday.

Ratification is a necessary step to get the industry back on its feet. However, production cannot resume until AMPTP reaches an agreement with SAG-AFTRA, whose 160,000 union members have been on strike since July 14. Negotiations with the actors union resumed last week and are continuing this week. The two sides remain at odds over minimum fee increases, streaming revenue-sharing proposals and other items.

WGA East President Lisa Cullen Takeuchi urged AMPTP to engage in fair dealings with SAG-AFTRA.

“Until the studios reach an agreement that addresses the needs of their performers, WGA members will be on the picket lines, walking alongside SAG-AFTRA in solidarity,” she said in a statement.

For the first time ever, the new WGA contract provides that writers will receive bonuses for top-performing shows on streaming platforms. Also, for the first time, the contract established minimum staffing levels for the writers’ room. The studio resisted both of these works, describing each as “non-starter” in the early stages.

The agreement also establishes a new minimum wage level for writer-producers, which will be 9.5% higher than story editor wages. The contract also provides for his 5%, 4% and 3.5% increases to most minimums on three-year contracts.

The agreement establishes a framework for the use of artificial intelligence, allowing authors to use it without compromising their credibility or compensation. Screenwriters were unable to accept one of their key AI demands: a provision that would prohibit studios from training AI systems based on screenwriters’ work. Both sides agree to differ on this issue, which may need to be resolved through arbitration or a court ruling.

The 148-day strike was one of the longest in guild history, rivaling the duration of the 1960 film strike. This year’s television strike lasted another week, ending after 156 days. And the 1988 film and television strike lasted 154 days.

The new contract will run from September 25, 2023 to May 1, 2026.