Writers’ Strike Reach Tentative Deal on Wages and AI

After a 146-day-long standoff, Hollywood might finally see an end to the Writers Guild of America’s (WGA) historic strike. Both the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) announced on Sunday, September 24, that they’ve reached a provisional agreement for a new three-year contract.

The Writers Guild, in an email to its members, expressed confidence in the tentative agreement, stating, “This deal is exceptional — with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of the membership.” However, specific terms of the agreement, affecting approximately 11,500 WGA members, have yet to be unveiled.

Members have been asked for patience until the complete details are ironed out. The WGA mentioned, “We cannot share the specifics until the last ‘i’ is dotted.” Preliminary votes by the union’s leaders are expected on Tuesday, determining the future course of the strike. If approved at these leadership levels, the deal will proceed to a ratification vote by the general membership.

Despite the positive development, the Guild reminded its members to hold off on returning to work. Picketing has been suspended, but writers have been advised not to resume their duties until a clear go-ahead from the union. As anticipation grows, the exact date for the union-wide ratification vote remains under wraps.

How does AI play into this?

The Writers Guild went on strike in May, expressing concerns over pay, staff sizes on shows, and the emerging role of artificial intelligence in script creation. Writers claimed that artificial intelligence in scripts would disrupt their jobs. According to a report from NBC News, a major sticking point has been “language over the use of artificial intelligence.”

The strike, just five days short of becoming the longest in Hollywood in decades, impacted about 11,500 members. Additionally, the SAG-AFTRA actors’ union began its strike in July, which remains unresolved. Commenting on the Writers’ agreement, SAG-AFTRA said, “While we look forward to reviewing the WGA and AMPTP’s tentative agreement, we remain committed to achieving the necessary terms for our members.”

The entire industry, along with fans worldwide, awaits the WGA’s final decision on the agreement, hoping for a positive resolution and a return to regular programming.

Editor’s note: This article was written by an nft now staff member in collaboration with OpenAI’s GPT-4.