The WGA and AMPTP have struck a deal to end the writers’ strike after 146 days on the picket lines.
They reached what the writers guild described as an “exceptional” deal on Sunday after five days of negotiations.
Thousands of Hollywood writers brought the film and television industry to a standstill on May 2 2023.
Strike action was called to fight for fair pay and safeguards against AI, and these conditions finally appear to have been met in a new three-year contract.
Lawyers were brought in over the weekend to fine-tune the small print, and guild members will submit a final vote on Tuesday to decide whether to stop the strike officially.
“To be clear, no one is to return to work until specifically authorized to by the Guild. We are still on strike until then,” the message to WGA members stated.
Details for the contract agreement won’t be released publicly until the language for the new contract is finalized.
However, there is still a lot of work to be done in Hollywood as the actors guild, SAG-AFTRA, continues to strike.
The WGA’s message to members begins: “We have reached a tentative agreement on a new 2023 MBA, which is to say an agreement in principle on all deal points, subject to drafting final contract language.
“What we have won in this contract – most particularly, everything we have gained since May 2nd – is due to the willingness of this membership to exercise its power, to demonstrate its solidarity, to walk side-by-side, to endure the pain and uncertainty of the past 146 days.
“It is the leverage generated by your strike, in concert with the extraordinary support of our union siblings, that finally brought the companies back to the table to make a deal.
“We can say, with great pride, that this deal is exceptional – with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of the membership.”
It continues by explaining that the vote will take place once the Negotiating Committee has agreed to send it to the WGAW Board and WGAE Council to approve.
While WGA picketing has been suspended, the committee urges writers to continue striking and join SAG-AFTRA members on the picket lines.
The Directors Guild of America congratulated the WGA, writing: “Congratulations to the WGA on reaching a tentative agreement tonight on behalf of their members.
“We have been proud to support the writers in their fight for a fair deal and look forward to reviewing the details of the agreement.
“Now it’s time for the AMPTP to get back to the table with SAG-AFTRA and address the needs of performers.”
