End of the writers’ strike: what were their achievements after 148 days of strike

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The strike ended in the early hours of Wednesday (27) after almost 150 days. Among the points of the agreement with the studios is protection against the use of artificial intelligence. Meredith Stiehm, president of the Screenwriters Union, and Fran Drescher, president of the Actors Union, protest during the screenwriters’ strike in May 2023, in Los Angeles Chris Pizzello/AP Photo The screenwriters’ strike in Hollywood, in the United States, ended in early this Wednesday (27) after 148 days of stoppage. The category’s union (WGA) approved, after voting, an agreement reached with studio representatives. The actors represented by SAG-AFTRA remain on strike, which began in July. The summary of the agreement with the screenwriters, which was distributed among the more than 11 thousand members of the union, highlights the increase in salaries and payment of residuals, payments based on the success of programs on streaming platforms and protection against the use of artificial intelligence. Initial plugin text See what the main achievements were in the agreement between the screenwriters and the studios. Bonuses and streaming data The agreement establishes a bonus system for screenwriters based on viewership on streaming services. Writers already receive a residual from shows made for streaming services, but the WGA wanted to establish a system that would reward these writers if their work attracted large audiences on streaming platforms. Until then, payment to the writers is made in advance and they do not receive extra if the program has a big impact. G1 Explains: Writers’ strike The WGA also demanded more transparency with audience data. The agreement calls for the union to receive confidential viewership metrics for original streaming programs based on hours watched. Aggregated data can be shared. Minimum number of writers The contract establishes a minimum number of staff for TV writers’ rooms, depending on the length of the season. For series with up to six episodes, three writers must be hired, for example. For shows with 13 or more episodes per season, the minimum team is six writers, which may include three writer-producers. This was one of the main demands among the screenwriters. In the streaming era, TV seasons have become shorter and, as a result, writers’ rooms have shrunk. This meant less space for screenwriters who had to amend one work to another to be able to support themselves. Protest by Hollywood actors and screenwriters in front of Paramount studios in August early career to gain experience in TV productions. Use of Artificial Intelligence This new WGA agreement regulates the use of artificial intelligence by studios. According to the contract, production companies must inform screenwriters whether the materials provided to them were generated by AI or whether there are AI-generated parts within the material. The use of AI is a sore point in the entertainment industry. Studios have found ways to make the development and production process more efficient. The rapid rise of ChatGPT and other similar technologies has caught the attention of screenwriters who believe “efficiency” is a threat to jobs. According to information from the LA Times website, this was one of the final and most difficult points to be debated, as neither the union nor the studios want to be tied to an agreement designed in a scenario that could change in a few years. Increase in salaries According to the document sent to union members, there will be an increase in salaries for screenwriters. The three-year contract for films and TV shows has a 5% salary increase in the first year, followed by 4% in the second, and 3.5% in the third. Select residual bases and minimum wages will receive smaller increases or one-time increases. End of the strike The WGA and the Alliance of Film and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents large entertainment companies on the labor front, reached the pact on Sunday, after 148 days of strikes and protests that practically closed the production of films and TV scripts. Actors represented by SAG-AFTRA remain on strike, which began in July. The WGA West and WGA East boards approved the agreement, which was unanimously recommended by the union’s bargaining committee. The WGA said the strike would officially end this Wednesday (27). The agreement is expected to be ratified in October. According to the newspaper “LA Times”, the union reported that the agreement was worth US$233 million, above the US$86 million offered by AMPTP. “This contract – won through the power of solidarity from members and our union brothers during a 148-day strike – embodies significant gains and protections for writers across all membership segments,” the union said in the statement. “We feel great. We won,” WGA Western President Meredith Stiehm said in an interview.

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