Sesame Street writers have voted to go on strike

All 35 of Sesame Street’s writers have authorised strike action should a deal not be reached. The negotiations have been ongoing for two months, as their contracts are set to expire on April 19.

The writers’ union is requesting industry-standard annual raises, improvement on residuals and union coverage for the organisation’s animation and social media segments.

WGA members at Sesame Workshop are prepared to strike.

The unit voted UNANIMOUSLY - with 100% participation - to authorize a strike if management does not reach a fair new contract before their current agreement expires this Friday, April 19. pic.twitter.com/IQU3MZJ1CQ

— Writers Guild of America East (@WGAEast) April 16, 2024

If an agreement is not reached by April 19, the Sesame Street writers will begin picketing outside Sesame Workshop’s offices in Manhattan, New York City. It would follow last year’s Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists’ (SAG-AFTRA) strikes, which brought productions on film and television shows to a halt in Hollywood and around the world.

The union agreed to a deal with the studios last September after 146 days on the picket line for WGA, while SAG-AFTRA lasted 118 days.

The WGA Sesame Workshop Negotiating Committee stated: "Our demands would be extremely meaningful for the affected writers, particularly those in animation who are currently being excluded from basic union benefits and protections like pension and healthcare."