Unions represent thousands of Hollywood movie and television writers reach a ‘tentative’ deal with major studios on Sunday, ending a strike that lasted 146 days bringing pickets to productions and company offices worldwide.
“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 resolution followed a breakthrough in negotiations between the Writers Guild of America and The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, or AMPTP, the group negotiating on behalf of the studios.
Two sides released a joint statement on Wednesday confirming that they met for bargaining and would resume talks on Thursday. Negotiations resumed on Friday and Saturday, the Writers Guild said, for four straight days for bargaining.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued a statement following the ending of the strike.
“After a nearly five-month long strike, I am grateful that the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers have reached a fair agreement and I’m hopeful that the same can happen soon with the Screen Actors Guild,” Bass said. “This historic strike impacted so many across L.A. and across the nation. Now, we must focus on getting the entertainment industry, and all the small businesses that depend on it, back on their feet and stronger than ever before.”
In the middle of its own strike, SAG-AFTRA congratulated the WGA on reaching an agreement.
“Since the day the WGA strike began, SAG-AFTRA members have stood alongside the writers on the picket lines. We remain on strike in our TV/Theatrical contract and continue to urge the studio and streamer CEOs and the AMPTP to return to the table and make the fair deal that our members deserve and demand.”
The longest strike in Writers Guild history was in 1988, lasting 54 days.
The writers’ strike began on May 2nd undertaken by 160,000 actors, bringing activity in Hollywood to a halt.
SAG-AFTRA members have been on strike since July14th.
