Topline
Hollywood writers and studios agreed to a tentative deal Sunday, setting the stage for the end of a nearly five month long strike—one of Hollywood’s longest work stoppages in decades—triggered by demands of better pay, residuals from streaming platforms and concerns over the use of artificial intelligence.
Members of WGA cheer at the end of their picket in front of CBS Television City on Sunday.
Key Facts
The Writer’s Guild of America said a tentative Minimum Basic Agreement has been reached and the deal “is exceptional—with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of the membership.”
In its statement, the guild hailed its members, saying the deal was a result of the “leverage generated by your strike.”
The tentative deal is for a three year contract agreement and it was reached after five days of talks between the writers union and the studios represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
Details of the deal have not yet been made public, as the final contract language is still being drafted, but the final deal will have to be voted on and ratified by the union’s leadership and its members.
The strike will officially remain in effect until the final approval of the deal, although the WGA said it has suspended picketing of the studios.
Big Number
146. That is the total number of days the WGA strike has lasted so far, making the longest work stoppage by the Hollywood writers since the 1988 WGA strike which lasted 153 days.
Crucial Quote
In a statement issued on Twitter the striking actor’s union SAG-AFTRA wrote: “To our fellow union siblings…we extend our heartfelt congratulations on securing a tentative agreement with the AMPTP…We applaud your dedication, diligence and unwavering solidarity over the last five months and are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with you as creative partners in the entertainment industry.”
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2023/09/25/wga-and-studios-reach-exceptional-tentative-deal-to-end-writers-strike/