Writers' union reaches tentative deal with Hollywood studios to end historic strike
Screenwriters’ union leaders and Hollywood studios have reached a tentative agreement to end a historic strike after nearly five months
LOS ANGELES — Screenwriters’ union leaders and Hollywood studios have reached a tentative agreement to end a historic strike after nearly five months, raising hopes that a crippling shutdown of film and television filming is near an end.
Actors remain on strike, but movement on the writers' demands could mean that the actors will find a resolution soon as well.
The Writers Guild of America announced the deal Sunday in a joint statement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the group that represents studios, streaming services and production companies in negotiations. The agreement must be approved by the guild’s board and members before the strike officially ends, and that could happen this week.
“WGA has reached a tentative agreement with the AMPTP,” the guild said in an email to members. “This was made possible by the enduring solidarity of WGA members and extraordinary support of our union siblings who joined us on the picket lines for over 146 days.”
In a longer message from the guild shared by members on social media, the writers were told the strike is not over and no one was to return to work until hearing otherwise, but picketing is to be suspended immediately.
The terms of the three-year contract agreement — settled on after five marathon days of renewed talks by WGA and AMPTP negotiators that was joined at times by studio executives — were not immediately announced. The tentative deal to end the last writers strike, in 2008, was approved by more than 90% of members.
Media and entertainment companies got a small boost from the news. Shares in Warner
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