Hollywood writers have officially returned to work after the WGA unanimously ended the 148-day strike.
On Tuesday, The union said, “The WGAW Board and WGAE Council also voted unanimously to lift the restraining order and end the strike as of 12:01 am PT/3:01 am ET on Wednesday, September 27. This allows writers to return to work during the ratification process but does not affect the membership’s right to make a final determination on contract approval.”
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has finalized an “exceptional deal” in a three-year agreement. Minimums for members will increase by 5% upon contract ratification, followed by 4% on May 2, 2024, and 3.5% on May 2, 2025, providing gains and protections across all sectors of the industry.
The tentative contract addresses AI usage in MBA-covered projects, prohibiting the training of AI with writers’ material and stating that AI-generated content cannot be considered source material or used for writing or rewriting literary content.
Writers can use AI voluntarily, but companies can’t force it. The agreement also introduces a “viewership-based streaming bonus” for content that attracts 20% of subscribers in the first 90 days, granting a 50% bonus on fixed residuals.
The contract depends on majority approval from union members; if it’s rejected, negotiations will resume. Starting Monday, eligible voters can cast their votes until October 9.
“After a nearly five-month long strike, I am grateful that the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers have reached a fair agreement, and I’m hopeful that the same can happen soon with the Screen Actors Guild,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement after reaching a tentative deal with the studios.
