After 146 days, presenting numerous challenges to broadcast television station programming schedules affiliated with the “Big Four” networks and those reliant on syndicated programming including shows from Drew Barrymore, the Writers Guild of America’s East and West has reached a tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
The walkout, some 46 days longer than a February 2008 dispute between the two organizations, came on Kol Nidre, the eve of the Jewish day of atonement, bringing a particularly poignant resolution to a dispute that preceded a SAG-AFTRA strike that remains unresolved but could now show signs of progress.
For WGA East and WGA West, its new agreement with the AMPTP is not yet finalized. However, the union says an agreement in principle on all deal points, subject to drafting final contract language, arrived on Sunday evening (9/24).
In a letter sent to WGA members from its negotiating committee, the union said, “What we have won in this contract—most particularly, everything we have gained since May 2—is due to the willingness of this membership to exercise its power, to demonstrate its solidarity, to walk side-by-side, to endure the pain and uncertainty of the past 146 days. It is the leverage generated by [a] strike, in concert with the extraordinary support of our union siblings, that finally brought the companies back to the table to make a deal.”
In WGA’s view, the deal with AMPTP is “exceptional—with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of the membership.”
What remains now? WGA staff is ensuring that what it has agreed to is codified in final contract language. While WGA is eager to share the details of what has been achieved, it cannot do that until the last “i” is dotted. “To do so would complicate our ability to finish the job. So, as you have been patient with us before, we ask you to be patient again—one last time,” it said.
Once the Memorandum of Agreement with the AMPTP is complete, the Negotiating Committee will vote on whether to recommend the agreement and send it on to the WGAW Board and WGAE Council for approval. The Board and Council will then vote on whether to authorize a contract ratification vote by the membership.
If that authorization is approved, the Board and Council would also vote on whether to lift the restraining order and end the strike at a certain date and time to be determined, pending ratification. This would allow writers to return to work during the ratification vote, but would not affect the membership’s right to make a final determination on contract approval.
Immediately after those leadership votes, which are tentatively scheduled for Tuesday (9/26) if the language is settled, WGA will provide a comprehensive summary of the deal points and the Memorandum of Agreement. It will also convene meetings where members will have the opportunity to learn more about and assess the deal before voting on ratification.
WORK RETURN PENDING
“To be clear, no one is to return to work until specifically authorized to by the Guild,” the union warned. “We are still on strike until then. But we are, as of today, suspending WGA picketing. Instead, if you are able, we encourage you to join the SAG-AFTRA picket lines this week.”
