Breaking: The Unending Battle Between Writers & Actors and Studios - Negotiations Hit Yet Another Deadlock!

Summary

Negotiations between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers have failed again, leaving the strike to continue.

It is surprising that the AMPTP is now making efforts to communicate, indicating a growing level of concern among producers. However, a resolution is still a distant prospect as the terms being offered may not align with the WGA's demands.

The WGA is committed to persisting with the strike until achieving victory, recognizing the importance of residuals and writers' rooms in fostering the development and economic stability of writers.

Negotiations between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers have once again failed, despite initial signs of hope for a new deal. The ongoing strike, which started on May 2 and has now lasted nearly 100 days, has seen members protesting in the streets to demand improved wages and working conditions. The strike gained momentum on July 14 when SAG-AFTRA joined the writers at the picket line after failing to reach their own agreement with the AMPTP. Recently, studios agreed to negotiate with the WGA. The AMPTP stated its willingness to meet on August 4, and the WGA also came to the table with hopes of reaching a potential deal.

Regrettably, the WGA and the AMPTP were not able to come to an agreement, resulting in the strike continuing indefinitely. The WGA has released a statement detailing the progress of the meeting and the reasons why they were unable to reach consensus on the new terms. In the meantime, the AMPTP will hold meetings with its member studios before reconvening with the WGA. The full statement can be read below.

Dear Members,

This afternoon, Ellen Stutzman and Tony Segall had a private meeting with Carol Lombardini and the staff at AMPTP. Carol mentioned that it was a confidential sidebar to discuss restarting negotiations for a new MBA. The topics covered included press blackouts, as insisted by AMPTP. Additionally, they talked about a potential negotiation protocol and gave a preview of the issues that each side plans to address when negotiations resume.

Currently, there is no consensus on these matters as the AMPTP stated the need to consult their member studios before proceeding further.

Following the private meeting, our plan was to inform you all through a concise email that we would provide an update once we had more concrete details regarding the resumption of negotiations.

Prior to the negotiating committee's scheduled meeting, our communications department was already inundated with requests from various trade organizations seeking clarifications about the studio-leaked rumors pertaining to the confidential discussions. This occurrence is particularly disconcerting considering the AMPTP's strong stance on enforcing a press blackout during the meeting. In light of the studios' unauthorized disclosures to the media, we find it imperative to share the details of the meeting with you.

Carol informed us that the DGA deal would cover any pattern issues. She mentioned their willingness to enhance their offer on certain writer-specific TV minimums and discuss AI. However, they made it clear that they were not open to discussing the preservation of the writers' room or success-based residuals. Carol did not express any willingness to address screenwriter issues, Appendix A issues, or the majority of the other proposals on our list.

Representing the Guild, Ellen emphasized that the new contract must address all the crucial issues that writers have been striking for in the past three months, leaving no member behind.

Ellen clarified that apart from a thorough response from the AMPTP regarding our proposals in all areas of work, we will also have to tackle the consequences of the strike. These include extending health care benefits and additional funding for the plan, reinstating striking writers, and resolving disputes that arose during the strike through arbitration. Additionally, we will strive to grant individual WGA members the right to show solidarity with other unions by supporting their picket lines, just as they have supported ours during this strike.

Carol reiterated her statement three times in the meeting, which aligns with the AMPTP press statement from yesterday: "The priority is for people to resume work." However, we believe it is crucial to address the underlying issues that have made the work of writers increasingly unsustainable before proceeding.

The committee is committed to working with the companies and resuming negotiations to achieve a fair agreement for all writers, despite the confirmation that the AMPTP playbook persists. However, please be assured that this committee will not abandon anyone or settle for a small deal to end the strike.

Solidarity.

WGA Negotiating Committee

The WGA And SAG-AFTRA Strike Will Be Indefinite

The fact that the AMPTP agreed to a meeting was initially promising for the writers. However, it is disappointing that both the WGA and the AMPTP are unwilling to compromise on certain crucial matters. According to the WGA statement, while the AMPTP showed willingness to consider higher minimums and potential discussions regarding AI, they declined to agree on the important issues of writers' rooms and residuals that the WGA has been advocating for. Regrettably, this unfavorable development also affects SAG-AFTRA, as the actors' guild is currently on strike due to similar concerns. Given the united efforts of both writers and actors to demand fair treatment and compensation, it is imperative for them to remain resolute in order to establish a conducive working environment.

The AMPTP's unexpected outreach has sparked surprise, as members of the alliance had previously indicated their willingness to wait until the WGA was defeated before engaging in negotiations. This response was heavily criticized online. However, this shift indicates growing concern on the part of producers, which gives hope to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA. Although there is still a long way to go, it seems that the strikes may be coming to an end as the AMPTP gradually begins to yield.

Despite these growing hopes, a resolution is not immediate. While the AMPTP is open to discussing AI, it does not guarantee that they will provide the terms the WGA is seeking. Residuals and writers' rooms are crucial elements of the WGA's demands as they support the growth of new writers and provide economic stability. With no agreement reached, the Writers Guild of America strike will continue, and the guild is determined to persevere until victory.

Source: WGA