WGA and AMPTP Reach Agreement to Months-Long Strike
/Some late-night talk shows are expected to return next week as the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), agree on a new labor contract. Members of the WGA have been on the picket lines since May 2, delaying countless productions and putting the future of scripted television series in peril. Not to mention the personal economic impact to the writers and local communities.
As of midnight, September 26, the WGA and AMTPT reached an tentative agreement that will end the 148-day strike pending the ratification vote of the guild’s membership which will take place from October 8 – 9.
The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) is yet to reach a deal, leaving 160,000+ actors on strike and many productions still delayed. Members of SAG-AFTRA began picketing on July 14, but they are going to meet with the AMPTP on Monday, October 2
WGA was seeking answers on issues related to pay raises, benefits, residuals from streaming platforms, and artificial intelligence. SAG-AFTRA has similar concerns, with actors fearing that artificial intelligence could be used to replicate their likeness without compensation. While the details of the new WGA contract are not yet clear, sources claim that under the new contract, the number of writers will increase in proportion to a show’s number of episodes—unless a single writer is hired to write all episodes. For example, a six-episode show that has been greenlit would require at least three writers, while a 10-episode show would need at least five. With still more details to come, this signifies win for the WGA in decades!
Stay tuned to Broadway Stages' blog for updates on the strike and our productions. We are thrilled at this progress and look forward to welcoming back the cast and crew members that keep our soundstages buzzing and the local economy fueled!