After signs of hope for a new deal, negotiations between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers have failed again. The ongoing strike began on May 2 and has raged on for nearly 100 days as members take to the streets in protest for better wages and working conditions. The strike intensified after SAG-AFTRA joined the writers at the picket line on July 14 when the union failed to reach its own agreement with the AMPTP. Recently, studios agreed to negotiate with the WGA. The AMPTP indicated that it would be willing to meet on August 4, and the WGA came to the table for a potential deal.

Unfortunately, the WGA and the AMPTP were unable to reach an agreement, leaving the strike to continue for the foreseeable future. The WGA released a statement announcing the progress of the meeting and the reasons why they have not agreed upon the new terms. In the meantime, the AMPTP will meet with its member studios before meeting with the WGA again. Read the full statement below:

Dear Members,

Ellen Stutzman and Tony Segall met with Carol Lombardini and AMPTP staff this afternoon for what Carol stated was a confidential sidebar to discuss resuming negotiations for a new MBA. Topics included—at the AMPTP’s insistence—press blackouts. Also discussed was a potential negotiation protocol and a preview of the issues each side intends to bring back to the table upon resumption.

As of now, there is no agreement on these items, because the AMPTP said they needed to consult with their member studios before moving forward.

Our intention after the confidential meeting was to send a simple email to you all letting you know we would get back to you when there was more specific information about resuming negotiations.

However, before the negotiating committee even had a chance to meet, our communications department began hearing from the trades asking for comments on studio-leaked rumors of the contents of the confidential meeting. This is after the AMPTP spent much of the meeting emphasizing the need for a press blackout.

Since the studios are leaking to the press we need to let you know what was said in the meeting.

First, Carol informed us that the DGA deal would be the deal on any pattern issues.

She stated they were willing to increase their offer on a few writer-specific TV minimums – and willing to talk about AI – but that they were not willing to engage on the preservation of the writers’ room, or success-based residuals. She did not indicate willingness to address screenwriter issues, Appendix A issues, and many of the other proposals that remain on our list.

On behalf of the Guild, Ellen reiterated the expectation that all the fundamental issues over which writers have been striking these past three months would be addressed in this new contract, and that no segment of the membership would be left behind.

Ellen made clear that, in addition to a comprehensive response from the AMPTP on our proposals in all work areas, we will need to address issues arising from the strike, including a health care benefit extension and additional plan funding, reinstatement of striking writers, and arbitration of disputes arising during the strike. We will also seek the right for individual WGA members to honor other unions’ picket lines as they have honored ours during this strike.

Carol’s response – something she repeated three times during the meeting – echoes what was written in the AMPTP press statement yesterday: “People just want to get back to work.”

We agree, with the caveat that those conditions that have made writers’ jobs increasingly untenable must first be addressed.

Your committee remains willing to engage with the companies and resume negotiations in good faith to make a fair deal for all writers, even with this early confirmation that the AMPTP playbook continues. But rest assured, this committee does not intend to leave anyone behind, or make merely an incremental deal to conclude this strike.

In solidarity,

WGA Negotiating Committee

The WGA And SAG-AFTRA Strike Will Be Indefinite

The AMPTP agreeing to a meeting was a good sign for the writers, but both the WGA and the AMPTP are unwilling to budge on certain issues. While WGA statement says that the AMPTP was willing to offer increased minimums and potential discussions about AI, they refused to agree to the writers' rooms and residuals that the WGA has been seeking. That is a poor sign for SAG-AFTRA, as the actors' guild is also striking over similar issues. With both writers and actors fighting for better treatment and payment, they will need to hold strong to secure a healthy working environment.

The fact that the AMPTP is reaching out now is considered a surprise. This comes after members of the alliance stated that they were willing to wait until the WGA was broken before making any moves to reach a deal. This response was met with immense online scrutiny. Nevertheless, the move became a sign of increasing concern on the part of producers, which seemed promising news for the WGA and SAG-AFTRA. With months of picketing behind them — and now more time to picket ahead of them — the chance of these strikes ending appears to be on the horizon as the AMPTP gradually bends.

Regardless of ballooning hopes, a resolution is still some time away. The AMPTP is willing to speak about AI, but that does not mean that they will offer the terms that the WGA is looking for. Additionally, residuals and writers' rooms are an important part of the WGA's terms, as they help to grow new writers and provide actual economic stability. With no agreement reached, the Writers Guild of America strike will continue, and the guild is determined to see it through to victory.

Source: WGA