The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has reached a four-year tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMTP), according to multiple reports. The deal, announced on Saturday, includes protections for the writers' health plan, increased company contributions across many areas, and long-needed increases to health contribution caps. It also builds on gains from 2023 and helps address free work challenges.
Key Takeaways
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has reached a four-year tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMTP). The deal includes protections for health plans, increased company contributions, and AI regulations. It must still be ratified by union members.
- WGA reaches four-year tentative agreement with AMPTP
- Deal includes health plan protections and AI regulations
- Agreement requires ratification by union members
- Studios also negotiating with actors' and directors' unions
The agreement comes just weeks before the expiration of the union's current contract on May 1. The WGA went on a strike in 2023 that lasted an entire summer, cramping production schedules for months. According to NPR, the new contract is expected to contain new rules around the use of artificial intelligence, such as licensing for AI training.
The tentative agreement was greeted with relief online by a number of writers, performers and producers. The AMPTP said in its announcement that it looks forward to 'building on this progress as we continue working toward agreements that support long-term industry stability.' As reported by UPI, the quick deal represents a big change from the last round of negotiations in 2023, when the WGA went on strike for 148 days.
The new writers' contract still requires ratification by union members, which could come later this month. The AMPTP is currently hashing out a new set of agreements with unions that represent screen actors and directors. Separately, the Writers Guild of America West’s staff union has been on strike since mid-February.
According to PBS, the precise terms of the deals were not immediately announced, but it is expected to include several writers' priorities such as better health care plans and more protections against artificial intelligence. The contract agreement, a year longer than a typical three-year deal, must be approved by the guild's board and members before it is ratified.
The surprise agreement came within weeks of negotiation — a stark contrast to the contentious contract negotiation three years ago when Hollywood writers went on a historic strike that partially brought the industry to a standstill. The screenwriters voted almost unanimously to approve that agreement, which provided them with more compensation, length of employment and control of artificial intelligence.
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