The Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers announced a tentative agreement, possibly ending a historic writers’ strike that has lasted 146 days. The tentative agreement was announced after several days of negotiations, raising hopes for a resolution to the protracted strike.
Although specific details of the agreement which will affect approximately 11,500 WGA members were not immediately available, both sides expressed satisfaction with the outcome. The agreement, which covers three years, will require ratification by WGA members before taking effect.
The union’s bargaining committee emphasized that the agreement is in drafting, which will go through a series of votes, beginning with the union’s bargaining committee, followed by the WGA West board and the WGA East council. If approved by these leadership bodies, members will receive a summary of the agreement prior to its ratification vote. During this process, picketing has been suspended, reminding members not to return to work until the union gives the green light.
The strike, which began on May 2, had a notable impact on the industry, leading to the disruption of filming on numerous major projects and television series. News of a tentative agreement does not necessarily guarantee an end to the strike, as WGA leadership could still vote against lifting the union’s strike order. In addition, members could reject the agreement in an upcoming ratification vote. Expectations are high, given how long the strike has lasted so far. In the coming days, the WGA leadership will no doubt work to persuade its members of the merits of the agreement.
