The tentative deal reached between Hollywood and studio executives has been received well by those on strike and others within the industry.
Members from the Writers Guild of America (WGA), who took on the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) with demands that included better pay and residuals, and safeguards on the use of artificial intelligence, shared their collective relief.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the WGA said: “We have reached a tentative agreement on a new 2023 MBA, which is to say an agreement in principle on all deal points, subject to drafting final contract language.
“What we have won in this contract – most particularly, everything we have gained since 2 May – is due to the willingness of this membership to exercise its power, to demonstrate its solidarity, to walk side-by-side, to endure the pain and uncertainty of the past 146 days. It is the leverage generated by your strike, in concert with the extraordinary support of our union siblings, that finally brought the companies back to the table to make a deal.”
The organization called the deal “exceptional”.
On Monday, Joe Biden issued a statement on the strike’s imminent end and praised the power of collective bargaining.
“I applaud the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers for reaching a tentative agreement that will allow writers to return to the important work of telling the stories of our nation, our world – and of all of us,” he said.
“This agreement, including assurances related to artificial intelligence, did not come easily. But its formation is a testament to the power of collective bargaining.
“There simply is no substitute for employers and employees coming together to negotiate in good faith toward an agreement that makes a business stronger and secures the pay, benefits, and dignity that workers deserve. I urge all employers to remember that all workers – including writers, actors, and auto workers – deserve a fair share of the value their labor helped create.”
Also on Monday, California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, called the writers a vital part of the state’s economy.
In a statement, he said: “California’s entertainment industry would not be what it is today without our world-class writers. For over 100 days, 11,000 writers went on strike over existential threats to their careers and livelihoods – expressing real concerns over the stress and anxiety workers are feeling.
“I am grateful that the two sides have come together to reach an agreement that benefits all parties involved, and can put a major piece of California’s economy back to work.”
In a show of solidarity, fellow union the Teamsters congratulated the WGA on their win.
“Teamsters congratulate WGA East and WGA West writers on their militancy and unwavering solidarity, winning a tentative agreement after almost five months on strike! The WGA strike has inspired workers everywhere to stand up against corporate greed and anti-worker technology. #1u,” the group wrote on X, previously known as Twitter.
The actor Mark Ruffalo also wrote on X: “Bravo! WGA proves when we fight we win. #Unionize. Congratulations.”
Bravo! WGA proves when we fight we win. #Unionize. Congratulations @WGAWest @WGAEast. #WGAStrike https://t.co/faBlQrPDeZ
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) September 25, 2023
Mindy Kaling, an actor, and writer and producer of several projects including The Office and The Mindy Project, also joined the picket line. Upon the announcement of the tentative deal, she posted on Instagram: “TENTATIVE AGREEMENT B******! CAN’T WAIT TO GO BACK TO WORK AND SEE MY PEOPLE!!!”
Referencing her old show, she quoted Michael Scott, who said: “I love my employees even though I hit one of you with my car.”
Talkshows were suspended during the strike, including Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.
Together, hosts from these shows collaborated on a limited series podcast called Strike Force Five, with all proceeds benefiting their out-of-work staff. Now that an agreement has been reached, the shows are expected to resume as early as October.
Plans for The Drew Barrymore Show to resume in the midst of the strike drew ire from the WGA and its supporters, but now that the strike is over, the show is also likely to resume production soon.
Representatives from the show did not immediately respond to the Guardian’s request for comment.
Fellow strikers from Sag-Aftra, the largest labor union representing performers and broadcasters, congratulated their colleagues on their win, but expressed hope for their own deal with the AMPTP soon.
In a statement on X, Sag-Aftra said: “To our fellow union siblings who serve on the WGA negotiating committee, we extend our heartfelt congratulations on securing a tentative agreement with the AMPTP. We applaud your dedication, diligence and unwavering solidarity over the last five months and are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with you as creative partners in the entertainment industry.
“We look forward to reviewing the terms of the WGA and AMPTP’s tentative agreement. And we remain ready to resume our own negotiations with the AMPTP as soon as they are prepared to engage on our proposals in a meaningful way.
“Until then, we continue to stand strong and unified. In solidarity, the Sag-Aftra TV/theatrical/streaming negotiating committee #SagAftraStrong.”
