WGA Negotiations to Restart on Wednesday
The Writers Guild of America will meet on Wednesday with the major studio alliance, as negotiations resume after a monthlong hiatus.
The WGA confirmed the meeting with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers in an email to members on Monday morning. The union has been on strike for 140 days.
More from Variety
Bill Maher Delays Start of 'Real Time,' Citing Strike Negotiations
Disney Taps 'Monday Night Football' to Boost ABC's Strike-Hampered Schedule
'The Talk' Postpones Return on CBS, Following Drew Barrymore
“The WGA and AMPTP now have a confirmed schedule to bargain this week, starting on Wednesday,” the union said in the message. “You might not hear from us in the coming days while we are negotiating, but know that our focus is getting a fair deal for writers as soon as possible. We’ll reach out again when there is something of significance to report.”
The two sides last met at the AMPTP headquarters in Sherman Oaks on Aug. 18. Four studio heads then met with a handful of WGA leaders on Aug. 22 at the Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel. The WGA described that meeting as a “lecture” intended to “jam” the guild into accepting the studios’ Aug. 11 offer.
The two sides have not met since then. According to the AMPTP, the WGA called the alliance last Wednesday to request a meeting. The WGA confirmed only that the two sides were talking about restarting talks, but did not address who made the first call.
The two sides remain far apart on streaming residuals and a proposal for a mandatory staffing level in TV writers rooms. They have made more progress on artificial intelligence regulations, though there is still disagreement about whether WGA writers’ work can be used to train AI systems.
Best of Variety
Oscars Predictions: Documentary Feature – Will the Fourth Time be the Charm for Wim Wenders?
Oscars Predictions: Best Actor - Stacked Race Adds More With Jeffrey Wright and Jamie Foxx
Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.