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Topics: SAG-AFTRA Writers Strike
Stewart Perrie
Topics: SAG-AFTRA Writers Strike
After months of strikes and a movement that brought Hollywood to a standstill, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) has announced a tentative agreement has been reached.
The WGA and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) have finally come to a consensus, however that doesn't mean the strikes are over.
They walked off the job because they wanted better pay conditions, better pay residuals and safeguards installed to prevent artificial intelligence from taking their jobs.
The WGA said in a statement: "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.
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"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."
They are waiting for the agreement to be codified in a final contract.
The WGA will then outline those details once everything has been officially sorted out.
"If that authorization is approved, the Board and Council would also vote on whether to lift the restraining order and end the strike at a certain date and time (to be determined) pending ratification," the statement continued.
"This would allow writers to return to work during the ratification vote, but would not affect the membership’s right to make a final determination on contract approval."
It added: "To be clear, no one is to return to work until specifically authorized to by the Guild. We are still on strike until then.
"But we are, as of today, suspending WGA picketing. Instead, if you are able, we encourage you to join the SAG-AFTRA picket lines this week."
The WGA has thanked everyone for their 'patience' during these lengthy strike actions.