The Hollywood Writers Guild has ratified a new agreement with film and television studios. The support was overwhelming: 99% of unionized workers voted for the new agreementThis is stated in the message of the Writers’ Union (SPP). Thus, the writers’ strike, which has paralyzed the industry since May, officially ends.
Of the 8,525 valid votes cast, 8,435 voted yes and 90 voted no. Duration of the agreement with From September 25, 2023 to May 1, 2026.
The union announced the move Monday after members had a week to vote on a labor contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). The producers met for five days in a row after not sitting at the negotiating table for months.
WGA Members Will See Minimum Wage Increases on Three Scales: They will increase by 5% after ratification, by another 4% in May 2024 and by another 3.5% in May 2025. They also secured other guarantees: they would see increases in health care and pension contributions, and there would be job guarantees for a fixed number of show writers. The latter will depend on the number of episodes released.
The union expressed special thanks to its chief negotiator Ellen Stutzman and committee co-chairs Chris Keyser and David Goodman. He also saluted the strike captains, party coordinators and staff who supported every part of the process. This is an agreement “that will change the industry,” he said.
Screenwriters end strike, but ask for solidarity with actors’ union
Hollywood screenwriters ended their strike after also pushing for a series of restrictions on the use of artificial intelligence. The contract typically prohibits producers from using the technology to write or rewrite literary material. Content created by artificial intelligence also cannot be considered original material. And, according to the agreement, should never “undermine the authority of the writer.”
The writers also insisted on supporting the actors. “As our negotiations come to a close, we will not forget our brothers at SAG-AFTRA who supported the writers every step of the way,” the WGA said in the document.
The actors began their own strike in mid-July this year. Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. (SAG-AFTRA) come back 2 October to the negotiating table. And this after it was announced that an agreement between the Writers’ Union and Producers was moving forward.
“We call on the AMPTP to reach an agreement that addresses the needs of artists, and until they do so, we ask WGA members to continue to show up at their vigils in solidarity,” they added in the statement.
Source: Hiper Textual
