The leaders of the Writers Guild of America on Tuesday called off a months-long strike that has paralysed Hollywood, accepting a pay deal hammered out with production studios.
The powerful writers’ union’s board of directors “voted unanimously to recommend the agreement,” it said in a statement, adding “the strike ends at 12:01am” Los Angeles time on Wednesday.
The union’s 11,500 members will have final say on whether to accept the offer, with a vote to take place between October 2 and 9, the group said.
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Theoretically, the deal can still be rejected by the screenwriters, but most industry experts believe the ratification will be a formality and work on stymied TV and film projects can restart while the process is being completed.
Thousands of film and television scribes downed their pens in early May over demands including better pay, greater rewards for creating hit shows, and protection from artificial intelligence.
They have manned picket lines for months outside offices including Netflix and Disney, and were joined by striking actors in mid-July, leaving normally busy Hollywood lots all but vacant in a dramatic show of force.
A WGA support sign rests near SAG-AFTRA members picketing outside Warner Bros Studio as the actors strike continues on September 26, 2023 in Burbank, California. Photo: Getty Images/AFP
Five days of intensive talks between the guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents the studios, culminated Sunday.
Industry watchers expect it will be welcomed by the membership.
“We can say, with great pride, that this deal is exceptional – with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of the membership,” the guild said Sunday.
WGA member Cylin Busby said while she didn’t know all the details of the deal, she was optimistic.
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“The messaging that we’re getting from our union is so positive that I would be shocked if it’s not a really good deal for the writers,” she told Agence France-Presse on Tuesday.
“I’m ready to get back to work.”
Even if the deal is approved, Hollywood will remain a long way from normal service, with actors – represented by the SAG-AFTRA union – still refusing to work.
A resolution to that stoppage is expected to take a minimum of several more weeks.
Actor Pedro Pascal (C) walks the picket line with striking SAG-AFTRA members outside Warner Bros Studio on September 26, 2023 in Burbank, California. Photo: Getty Images/AFP
With hundreds of film and television shoots backed up, it could still then take months for Hollywood to clear the logistical logjam and get fully back to work.
Actors were on the picket lines Tuesday outside Netflix, being joined by members of the WGA who were there in support.
“Our strike is over. But the battle goes on until the actors get their deal,” said WGA member Vinnie Wilhelm.
“We would not have gotten the deal that we have gotten if it weren’t for the support of the actors.”