Hollywood writers strike officially ends as deal agreed over wages and AI

AJ Buckley on writers strikes

The Hollywood writer’s strike will officially come to an end after a staggering 148 days.

The Writers Guild of America struck an “exceptional” deal on Sunday after five days of hard negotiations – and tonight they announced when members will return to work.

Thousands of writers brought the film and television industry to a standstill in May this year as strike action was called to fight for fair pay and safeguards against AI.

It’s now been announced by the union that the writers’ strike will end at 12:01am on Wednesday.

The WGA tweeted: “The WGA reached a tentative agreement with the AMPTP. Today, our Negotiating Committee, WGAW Board, and WGAE Council all voted unanimously to recommend the agreement. The strike ends at 12:01 am.”

READ MORE: AI expert warns ‘Hollywood needs to evolve’ fearing ‘biggest danger’ of strikes

Lawyers were brought in over the weekend to fine-tune the small print, and guild members submitted a final vote on Tuesday to stop the strike officially.

The three-year “minimum basic agreement”, which has been reached with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, was approved by the writers guild negotiating committee, the WGA West Board and WGA East Council.

Details for the contract agreement have now been released, and the deal sees an increase in minmum wages, raises the rate of health cares and pension contributions, and iprovides bonuses to residuals based on viewership for streaming.

Another keypoint regarded rules around artificial intelligence, so it’s been agreed that AI-generated material “can’t be used to undermine a writer’s credit or separated rights.”

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Writers can choose to use AI but they cannot be forced into it, and they must be told if any of the material being given is from AI.

While the writers are going back to work, actors will remain ons trike as theScreen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists

SAG-AFTRA have similar concerns about being paid streaming residuals and around the use of AI.

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.”

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