Hollywood studios and screenwriters strike four‑year tentative pact
The Writers Guild of America West (WGA‑W) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers reached a tentative four‑year agreement after about three weeks of negotiations. The union’s negotiating committee voted unanimously to accept the deal, and the alliance confirmed acceptance in a statement released on Saturday.
Key elements reported by the WGA‑W include enhanced health‑care benefits that build on 2023 gains, protections against artificial‑intelligence use, and measures to address unpaid or “free work” situations. Exact details have not been disclosed, and the agreement must obtain approval from the guild’s board and its members before it can be ratified.
The agreement follows the expiration of the previous contract in May and arrives after a multi‑year history of contentious negotiations, including a three‑year strike in 2021 that halted much of the industry. The studios are also in talks with actors and directors’ unions for contracts set to expire in June.
Separately, the WGA‑W staff union launched a strike in February over alleged unfair labor practices. The impact of that strike on the tentative agreement remains uncertain.