The ink has barely dried on the ratified contract as nearly all members of Hollywood’s Writers Guild of America (WGA) signaled their approval, thus putting a conclusive end to an almost five month-long strike. However, an exit for the actors embroiled in their own dispute has yet to be found.
According to the data released by the Writers’ Guild on Monday, an overwhelming 99 percent of the 8,525 votes cast by its members affirmed the negotiated agreement. Touted as a significant victory by its brass, the contract yielded substantial benefits in pay and increased staff sizes on shows, amongst others.
Arguably the most noteworthy victory was the control of artificial intelligence applications in script-writing. The successful ratification vote, cast over the prior week, as expected, revealed no wavering in the members’ support.
Meredith Stiehm, WGA-East President, lauded the guild’s achievement in a missive. “Together we were able to accomplish what many said was impossible only six months ago,” she expressed.
Separately, following the commencement of their strike nearly three months prior, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists’ (SAG-AFTRA) leaders reconvened with studio representatives on Monday to resume contract deliberations. These resumed talks come exactly one week after previous discussions.
Contrary to the round-the-clock negotiations that terminated the writers’ strike, SAG-AFTRA and studios appear to be proceeding more cautiously, rendering the progress made somewhat ambiguous.
In an act of industry solidarity, the Writers’ Guild has publicly called upon studios to acquiesce to the actors’ requirements, vowing their members will stand on the picket lines until an agreement is in place.
The scribes’ fresh contract, valid till May 1, 2026, marks three years since the expiration of their preceding contract that precipitated the strike. After negotiations, in which top-brass of industry giants such as Disney, Netflix, and Warner Bros. Discovery were directly involved, a tentative deal was reached on September 24.
Two days later, the Guild’s board gave their approval, thus signaling an end to the strike, and the writers were released back to their craft. Television writers sprung into action almost immediately, with late-night talk shows gracing screens within the week, and other shows like “Saturday Night Live” slated to follow closely after.
Offering a note of reconciliation, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers—which represents the studios, streaming giants, and production houses in strike negotiations—appreciated the writers’ unanimous vote. The statement further acknowledged the new contract as harboring significant gains for the writers, recognizing it as a crucial stride for the industry that would thankfully see these key contributors back at work.
