Striking writers and Hollywood studios reached a tentative agreement Sunday to end a historic nearly five-month strike that halted most TV and film productions in Hollywood.
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) said the deal is still subject to drafting final contract language.
Calling the deal “exceptional” in a Sunday statement, the WGA said the agreement has “meaningful gains and protections” for 11,000 Hollywood writers.
“What we have won in this contract — most particularly, everything we have gained since May 2nd — is due to the willingness of this membership to exercise its power, to demonstrate its solidarity, to walk side-by-side, to endure the pain and uncertainty of the past 146 days,” the WGA wrote.
The three-year contract agreement comes after five marathon days of talks by WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the group that represents studios, streaming services, and production companies in negotiations, according to The Associated Press. The exact details of the tentative deal were not announced.
While writers are still technically on strike until the guild’s board approves a final deal, the WGA said it has suspended picketing and encouraged their writers to instead join the picket lines for SAG-AFTRA, the largest union for Hollywood actors.
SAG-AFTRA began its strike in July after failing to reach an agreement with film studios, marking the first dual strike since 1960. Both unions demanded better wages and working conditions as well as higher residual rates related to streaming.
“SAG-AFTRA congratulates the WGA on reaching a tentative agreement with the AMPTP after 146 days of incredible strength, resiliency, and solidarity on the picket lines. While we look forward to reviewing the WGA and AMPTP’s tentative agreement, we remain committed to achieving the necessary terms for our members,” SAG-AFTRA wrote in a statement Sunday.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said Sunday he is grateful writers and studios reached a tentative deal, writing in a statement, “California’s entertainment industry would not be what it is without our world class writers.”
“For over 100 days, 11,000 writers went on strike over existential threats to their careers and livelihoods — expressing real concerns over the stress and anxiety workers are feeling,” Newsom added.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) echoed Newsom’s message, saying she is hopeful the same can happen with the Screen Actors Guild.
“This historic strike impacted so many across Los Angeles and across the nation,” Bass wrote. “Now, we must focus on getting the entertainment industry, and all the small businesses that depend on it, back on their feet and stronger than ever before.”