Film studios vs. union
Writers’ strike ends in Hollywood
The ongoing writers’ strike in Hollywood is ending. photo
© Chris Pizzello/AP/dpa
Hollywood writers return to their desks. The authors’ strike is over, but normality and “business as usual” are not returning to the dream factory.
The reason for the U-turn after almost five months The strike is a freshly negotiated, provisional employment contract that, among other things, gives the writers higher salaries and security for the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
The WGA board agreed on Tuesday to a tentative agreement between the union and major studios and streaming providers in the United States. Board members unanimously voted to accept an agreement that was negotiated on Sunday after days of marathon meetings.
148 strike days
But the deal is not yet finalized. The more than 11,000 members must finally vote on the new employment contract. This is scheduled to take place from October 2nd to 9th. The strike could continue if ratification fails. However, industry observers consider this to be highly unlikely.
With 148 days of strike, this labor dispute came close to the longest strike ever by writers in Hollywood – in 1988 the record was 154 days. Now the first writing projects, for example for late-night shows, should get rolling again quickly. US television presenter Bill Maher from the weekly HBO show “Real Time” wrote on the online platform X on Tuesday: “My authors and “Real Time” are back! See you Friday night!”.
Actors continue to strike
But normality and “business as usual” are not returning to the dream factory. The approximately 160,000 actors from the acting union SAG-AFTRA are still on strike. They joined the writers’ strike in mid-July. The fronts between the producers and the actors’ union have hardened – there have been no talks since the strike began in July. “Our fight is not over yet – it is heating up!” SAG-AFTRA wrote on Platform X on Tuesday. They would continue to fight for a “fair” contract. There are currently no confirmed dates for a meeting with studio representatives.
The double strike by actors and screenwriters almost brought Hollywood to a standstill. Due to the labor dispute, practically no films and series could be filmed. Due to the strike, actors are also not allowed to advertise their films.
The end of the writers’ strike is seen in the industry as a signal that the next step will be for actors and studios to sit at the negotiating table. The new WGA agreement could also serve as a blueprint for the SAG-AFTRA union in key respects.
Artificial intelligence is a core topic
According to a statement from the Writers Guild, the new deal is valid until May 2026. The preliminary contract contains, among other things, annual staggered wage increases and higher subsidies for retirement and health care. The writers will also receive higher royalties for popular films or series on streaming services.
The draft contract also stipulates a minimum number of writers for TV series, depending on the number of episodes. More employees in the so-called “Writers Room” should make creative work easier.
The authors were also able to negotiate better framework conditions for the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Studios are therefore not allowed to use AI-generated material as a source at the expense of the creatives. Authors can decide whether they want to use AI in their work, but they cannot be required to use these technologies.
The use of artificial intelligence is also a core issue in the actors’ strike. Among other things, they want to prevent AI from using their likeness, voice or performances without consent or compensation.