The Writers Strike Is Over: WGA Votes to Lift Strike Order After 148 Days

Jennifer Maas
·3 min read
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The Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike is officially over.

On the 148th day of the work stoppage, the board of the WGA West and council of the WGA East voted unanimously on Tuesday to lift the strike order as of 12:01 a.m. PT on Wednesday. following a tentative agreement on a new minimum basic agreement (MBA) contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). That means writers can go back to work as of Wednesday even before the final ratification vote on the contract.

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The unanimous decision to end the strike comes two days after the writers and Hollywood studios successfully concluded talks for a new three-year MBA deal on Sept. 24. Following a marathon negotiation session, the two sides were able to find compromises on key sticking points, including generative AI in the creative process, minimum staffing requirements for writers rooms and streaming residuals.

The vote to lift the strike order followed unanimous votes by the WGA’s negotiating committee, the WGA West board and WGA East council to send the contract to members for ratification.

Until now, the WGA has maintained the work stoppage was still in effect, telling membership when the tentative deal was struck Sunday: “To be clear, no one is to return to work until specifically authorized to by the Guild. 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. “

SAG-AFTRA is still picketing the AMPTP, awaiting its turn to return to the negotiating table amid its 75-day strike.

On Tuesday, the WGA released the complete 94-page MBA contract and a summary of the new terms. The deal includes gains in compensation, a new requirement for minimum staff levels in TV writers rooms, improved payment terms for screenwriters and protections for the use of artificial intelligence in the writing process. Per the guild’s agreement:

  • AI can’t write or rewrite literary material, and AI-generated material will not be considered source material under the MBA, meaning that AI-generated material can’t be used to undermine a writer’s credit or separated rights.

  • A writer can choose to use AI when performing writing services, if the company consents and provided that the writer follows applicable company policies, but the company can’t require the writer to use AI software (e.g., ChatGPT) when performing writing services.

  • The Company must disclose to the writer if any materials given to the writer have been generated by AI or incorporate AI-generated material.

  • The WGA reserves the right to assert that exploitation of writers’ material to train AI is prohibited by MBA or other law.

The WGA’s ratification vote will be held from Oct. 2-Oct. 9. The WGA will host member meetings on both coasts this week in person and on Zoom to discuss the details of the contract. Given the enthusiastic endorsement of the WGA negotiating committee, it is expected to be easily ratified by strike-weary members.

The WGA West will hold a member meeting Wednesday night at 7 p.m. PT the Hollywood Palladium. The WGA East will convene the same night at Manhattan Center at 6 p.m. ET. Zoom meetings will be held Thursday at 5 p.m. PT and Friday at 11 a.m. PT.

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