Writers Guild members ratify new contract with studios

by

Writers Guild of America members have voted to approve their new contract with the major movie and television studios.

As a WGA member, I’m so relieved and excited that the new contract was ratified! Over 90% of us voted yes – it’s amazing to see such strong support. The voting just closed, and it feels like a huge win after we reached that tentative deal earlier this month. What really stands out to me is the healthcare plan – studios are committing over $320 million to keep it strong. Plus, we’re finally getting better residuals, especially for streaming shows. There’s even a ‘success bonus’ that could boost those residuals from 50% to 75% for the biggest hits! And importantly, the contract addresses how our work is used for AI training, which is a huge concern for all of us.

John August, a leader of the Writers Guild of America’s negotiating team, said members were relieved to avoid a strike or work stoppage during the current difficult time for the industry. He explained that writers simply want to work and return to their jobs.

Talks between the writers’ union and the major film and TV studios started in March, with their current contract set to expire on May 1st. According to union representative August, a key goal at the start of negotiations was to improve the healthcare plan. They successfully negotiated increases to the amount companies contribute, raising the cap to as much as $400,000 by 2028. Union leaders point out that the current contribution cap hasn’t been updated in twenty years, and as the number of working writers has decreased, healthcare contributions have also fallen.

Hollywood Inc.

After just under a month of talks, the Writers Guild of America has reached a preliminary agreement with the major movie and television studios. The WGA has since shared the specifics of the deal.

The new contract includes a change where members will need to start paying $75 a month towards their healthcare. Also, the income level required to qualify for coverage is increasing by around $7,000, to $53,773, and this has many members worried about the added expense.

It’s a challenging time, especially with the state of healthcare in the US. However, our negotiating team, led by co-chair Danielle Sanchez-Witzel, remained focused on ensuring writing remains a viable career path.

The new contract will last for four years, longer than the Writers Guild of America’s typical three-year agreements, though this isn’t unprecedented. According to negotiator Sanchez-Witzel, the four-year duration isn’t a new standard, but rather a specific agreement reached for this negotiation cycle – it’s simply what was needed this time.

Hollywood Inc.

Both the actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA, and Hollywood studios have agreed to continue talks for another week. Meanwhile, the writers’ guild, WGA, has publicly shared what it’s seeking in its contract negotiations.

We came back in 2026 to pursue goals we hadn’t achieved in earlier discussions, and we’re pleased with the advancements we made.

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) was the first Hollywood union to reach an agreement with the studios. Shortly after the vote results were confirmed, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) released a statement congratulating the WGA on the ratification.

According to the AMPTP, this agreement shows a willingness to work together, benefiting writers and ensuring the industry remains healthy in the future.

SAG-AFTRA and the Directors Guild of America still need to negotiate new contracts.

As a huge movie fan, I’ve been following the actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA, and their contract talks closely. They started negotiating back in February and continued through March, but they generously stepped back to let the AMPTP finalize their agreement with the writers. Now, with the writers’ deal done, everyone’s focused on SAG-AFTRA’s contract, which, along with the Directors Guild of America’s, is set to expire at the end of June.

Read More

2026-04-25 00:31