Lifestyle & Sports
25 Sep 23

Hollywood writer's strike to end after nearly five months

Writers picket in front of Netflix on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California, on May 2, 2023 as the Writers Guild of American (WGA) goes on strike. - More than 11,000 Hollywood television and movie writers went on their first strike in 15 years, after talks with studios and streamers over pay and working conditions failed to clinch a deal. The strike means late-night shows are expected to grind to a halt immediately, while television series and movies scheduled for release later this year and beyond could face major delays. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)

Ali Toohey

WGA & AMPTP Reach Tentative Agreement To End Writers Strike.

There has been a tentative agreement reached between Union leaders and Hollywood studios to end the screenwriters' strike after nearly five months.

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) announced the deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), the group which represents studios, streaming services and producers in negotiations.

In an email sent to members, the WGA explained: "WGA has reached a tentative agreement with the AMPTP. This was made possible by the enduring solidarity of WGA members and extraordinary support of our union siblings who joined us on the picket lines for over 146 days."

The union made it clear that strikes are not over just yet: "To be clear, no one is to return to work until specifically authorised to by the Guild. We are still on strike until then. But we are, as of today, suspending WGA picketing. Instead, if you are able, we encourage you to join the SAG-AFTRA picket lines this week."

Before the strike can officially end the terms of the three-year contract agreement must be approved by the board and members of the guild.

The agreement comes a mere five days before the strike would have become the longest in the guild's history, and the longest Hollywood strike in decades.

On May 2, around 11,500 members of the Writers Guild of America walked off the job over issues of pay, the size of writing staff on shows and the use of artificial intelligence in script writing. Actors also joined the strike in July due to their own issues but are yet to resume talks of negotiations with their union, the SAG-AFTRA (the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists).

This dual strike caused a halt in film and TV production forcing shows to show re-runs in the meantime.

People can expect nightly network shows to be back within days of the agreement. However, talks are yet to be resumed between studios and striking actors.

The proposed solution to the writers' strike comes after talks resumed on Wednesday for the first time in a month.