LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 9: Screen Actors Guild (SAG) members and supporters hold a solidarity rally regarding contract negotiations outside the Screen Actors Guild National Headquarters June 9, 2008, in Los Angeles, California.
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) members have voted decisively in favor of giving union leadership the authority to declare a strike if negotiations with Hollywood studios fail.
Potential Impending Strike
According to ABC7 Eyewitness News, WGA officials reported on Monday, April 17, that 97.85% of members voted in support of authorizing a walkout.
In a tweet reporting the results of the vote, the WGA said, "Writers are ready for a deal from the studios that allows writers to share in the success of the content they create and build a stable life."
WGA members have authorized a strike by 97.85%. Writers are ready for a deal from the studios that allows writers to share in the success of the content they create and build a stable life. #WGAStrong pic.twitter.com/gnCJsgH8Sg
— Writers Guild of America West (@WGAWest) April 17, 2023
Writers in Hollywood are demanding more salaries and residuals, especially for their work on streaming services.
When the present contract ends in May, union officials may choose to organize a strike if they believe negotiations with the producers have stagnated since they were given the authority to do so by a majority of the members.
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) and the WGA are still in negotiations.
In a recent statement, the AMPTP said, "The AMPTP companies approach this negotiation and the ones to follow with the long-term health and stability of the industry as our priority. We are all partners in charting the future of our business together and [are] fully committed to reaching a mutually beneficial deal with each of our bargaining partners. The goal is to keep production active so that all of us can continue working and continue to deliver to consumers the best entertainment product available in the world."
Previously, Southern California lost an estimated $2 billion to $3 billion in economic activity when film and television production halted for 100 days during the previous WGA strike from 2007 to 2008.
Pattern of Demands
Prior to the discussions, the guild's Pattern of Demands - a large list of overarching objectives - was divided into these three sections. As Deadline reported, these are Compensation and Residuals, Pension Plan and Health Fund, and Professional Standards and Protection in the Employment of Writers.
The summary of each demand is as follows:
Compensation and Residuals
- Increased minimum pay to combat the devaluation of writing in TV, new media, and features.
- Standard residual and payout arrangements for theatrical and streaming films.
- Mini-room abuses must be addressed.
- Pay television series writers during preproduction, production, and postproduction.
- Include all television writers in span protections.
- Apply MBA minimums to new media comic variety shows.
- Increased residuals for underpaid reuse marketplaces.
- Limit unpaid extract usage.
Pension Plan and Health Fund
- Contribute more to pension and health funds.
Professional Standards and Protection in the Employment of Writers
- Require weekly payments and two phases for feature contracts below a certain threshold.
- Expand TV writer contract options and exclusivity control.
- Regulate AI-produced content.
- Promote wage fairness and fight discrimination and harassment.
- Update and extend arbitrator lists.
