Hollywood writers’ strike nears end as WGA and AMPTP reach agreement

The writers’ strike is (almost) over. The Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, a collection of Hollywood’s biggest studios, came to a “tentative agreement” on a new contract on Sunday, heralding an end to the WGA strike that started on May 2.

The agreement still needs to be ratified: first, by the writers’ negotiating committee, then by the WGA West board and the WGA East council in votes scheduled for Tuesday, and finally by the union’s membership. Picketing is suspended for the time being, although writers are still on strike. It’s possible the union leadership will lift its restraining order and allow writers to return to work from Tuesday, before the membership ratification vote takes place.

It was not revealed what the terms were, but it will be made public before the voting of members. “What remains now is for our staff to make sure everything we have agreed to is codified in final contract language,” the WGA explained in a statement. “And though we are eager to share the details of what has been achieved with you, we cannot do that until the last ‘i’ is dotted. To do so would complicate our ability to finish the job.”

The WGA discussed issues such as AI regulations, how to staff writers’ rooms, and whether residual payments should be linked to performance on streaming. “We can say, with great pride, that this deal is exceptional — with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of the membership,” the WGA said.

Sunday’s agreement was reached on day 146, making this the longest Hollywood writers’ strike since 1988. After negotiations began, the strike came to an end with no agreement being reached by either party. Last week, the holdout ended between both groups. Both parties returned to work on Wednesday. According to The Hollywood Reporter, days of intense discussion followed, with the studios tabling their “best and final” offer late on Saturday. The writers may have felt they were in the driving seat, as union negotiators made a few more requests before an agreement was reached on Sunday.

Pre-production, writing and production of shows such as The Last of Us season 2 can resume, but it isn’t the end of the studios’ labor problems. Screen Actors Guild, which is on strike as well against the AMPTP continues negotiations for its own contract. While the SAG strikes continues, Hollywood production will remain on hold even though shows and movies have been developed with writers back to work. Late night and daytime talk shows, however, will be able to resume production immediately — albeit without any striking actors as guests.

“SAG-AFTRA congratulates the WGA on reaching a tentative agreement with the AMPTP after 146 days of incredible strength, resiliency and solidarity on the picket lines,” the actors’ guild said in a statement. “While we look forward to reviewing the WGA and AMPTP’s tentative agreement, we remain committed to achieving the necessary terms for our members. SAG members joined the WGA on pickets since the strike started. We remain on strike in our TV/Theatrical contract and continue to urge the studio and streamer CEOs and the AMPTP to return to the table and make the fair deal that our members deserve and demand.”