Hollywood TV and film writers represented by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) are evaluating a counterproposal from studios that would end their ongoing strike of more than 100 days, marking a substantial step forward in negotiations.
“Your Negotiating Committee received a counterproposal from the AMPTP today,” the guild’s negotiating committee said in a statement, referring to the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. “We will evaluate their offer and, after deliberation, go back to them with the WGA’s response next week.
“Sometimes more progress can be made in negotiations when they are conducted without a blow-by-blow description of the moves on each side and a subsequent public dissection of the meaning of the moves. That will be our approach, at least for the time being, until there is something of significance to report, or unless management uses the media or industry surrogates to try to influence the narrative.”
The AMPTP, which represents the studios, resumed negotiations with the WGA on 4 August, the first talks since more than 11,000 writers went on strike on 2 May.
Reports noted those initial talks did not go well, with the 11 August meeting turning out to be more productive.
TV and film writers are calling for improvements to residuals and pay as the shift to streaming services has been used by the industry to underpay writers, and for regulation of how artificial intelligence is used by the industry.
In July, thousands of television and film actors represented by the Sag-Aftra union also went on strike over similar issues.
Their union provided an update on 9 August, noting the studios have not yet contacted them to resume talks.
