Writers Guild of America Goes on Strike – How Streaming’s Impact on the Industry Sparks First Strike in 15 Years
The Board of Directors of the @WGAwest and the Council of the @WGAeast, acting upon the authority granted to them by their memberships, have voted unanimously to call a strike, effective 12:01 AM, Tuesday, May 2.
— Writers Guild of America West (@WGAWest) May 2, 2023
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has declared a strike, marking the guild’s first industrial action in 15 years. The Hollywood Reporter reveals that the work stoppage began on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 2. The WGA claims that the studios’ responses have been “wholly insufficient given the existential crisis writers are facing.”
The union alleges that studios and streamers have not agreed on critical issues, such as guaranteed employment duration for TV writers and protections against AI-based writing for WGA-covered work. Furthermore, proposals to minimize unpaid work have not been resolved. The current three-year contract between the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), representing most of Hollywood’s studios, expired at midnight Pacific time.
Negotiations continued until the last minute, but the WGA had already authorized a strike with a majority vote in April. Central to the dispute are proposed changes to accommodate the shift in the entertainment landscape caused by streaming services. As TV writers lose residual income, the WGA seeks contract changes to ensure a more stable industry in the era of streaming platforms.
The WGA also demands increased minimum pay, a new TV residuals formula, and improved working conditions, including minimum TV writing staff sizes.
The previous WGA strike in 2007-08, a historic 100-day work stoppage, disrupted live and late-night shows, delayed movies, and boosted the rise of reality TV. The current strike’s duration remains uncertain, but TV productions, including The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, are expected to be affected immediately. Other shows, such as Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Daily Show, Saturday Night Live, Real Time with Bill Maher, and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, are likely to face similar impacts due to their reliance on timely writing.
Regenerate response
