‘They’re willing to fight.’ WGA leaders brace for tough negotiations

by

Almost three years ago, Hollywood writers went on strike for 148 days, causing major disruptions to the film and television industry and sparking a wider wave of labor issues.

Writers are preparing to start new contract negotiations with the major film and TV studios. Most experts don’t believe the writers’ union is planning a strike, particularly because many writers are currently facing job insecurity due to industry mergers and budget cuts.

Before talks start on Monday, union leaders want to make it clear they haven’t lowered their expectations.

WGA West President Michele Mulroney stated in a recent interview that the union’s members are consistently prepared to advocate for their needs and will do so again in this situation.

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is seeking better healthcare, higher pay from streaming services, and stronger safeguards against the use of artificial intelligence as its current contract nears its expiration on May 1st.

Hollywood Inc.

So, good news for those of us following the Hollywood strikes: talks between the actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA, and the studios have been extended for another week. And the writers’ guild, the WGA, just laid out exactly what they’re asking for in their new contract. It seems like both sides are still at the table, which is a positive sign, though we’ll have to wait and see if this extension leads to a real breakthrough.

Ellen Stutzman, who leads the union, explained that despite what many think, the studios have actually adapted to the shift from traditional cable to streaming services quite successfully. They’ve done this by finding ways to make more money through things like package deals, higher subscription costs, and advertising.

According to Stutzman, Netflix and Paramount are currently competing to buy Warner Bros., with Paramount offering $81 billion. This competition suggests there will be funds available to reach a fair agreement with writers.

Union leaders say this year’s contract talks are centered on ensuring writers can have long-term, stable careers.

A representative from the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the group negotiating on behalf of the studios, stated they are eager to begin productive talks with the Writers Guild of America. They expressed confidence that through open and honest discussions, they can find fair agreements that both support writers and ensure the continued health of the film and television industry.

One of the Writers Guild of America’s main goals is to raise the maximum amount companies pay into the union’s health insurance plan. Union leaders explain that this limit hasn’t been updated in twenty years, and contributions have been falling because fewer writers are employed.

AI is also top of mind for the WGA.

In 2023, the guild successfully protected its members from AI by legally defining that AI is not an author and its output isn’t considered original writing.

With big studios like Disney investing heavily in AI – Disney put $1 billion into OpenAI’s Sora – many writers are worried about how artificial intelligence might impact their jobs and creative work.

John August, co-host of the “Scriptnotes” podcast and a negotiator for the Writers Guild of America, explained that AI is utilizing studios’ creative work – the scripts they own and have previously licensed. He believes the recent deal with Sora demonstrates the companies’ plan to profit from this content by using it to train AI models.

August explains the union will be wary of claims that it’s premature to demand protections for this new industry. They point to past experiences with DVDs and the internet, noting how drastically those technologies altered writers’ pay, as a reason to act now.

According to August, if anyone is profiting from AI generated using our creations, we deserve to be compensated. They are essentially benefiting from our work.

The Writers Guild of America’s negotiating team is also working to increase pay for shows on streaming services, ensure writers’ rooms have enough staff, and provide better safeguards for writers working on new show pilots.

Hollywood Inc.

Only a month before the Writers Guild is scheduled to begin negotiations with major film and TV studios, its own employees are on strike, alleging unfair treatment at work. The strike is happening right outside the Guild’s offices.

Mulroney expressed hope that the AMPTP had learned from the events of 2023 and would now be willing to seriously consider their proposal and reach a fair agreement quickly. He believes this would benefit both the companies and union members, creating a more stable situation for everyone involved.

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is starting contract talks almost a month after the actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA, began their negotiations. Last week, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) announced it was extending the negotiation period by another seven days.

Read More

2026-03-14 13:31