After five consecutive days of negotiations that lead to a tentative agreement on a new three-year contract, guild leaders have voted and the strike is officially over.
Now, that’s a wrap! After the WGA reached a tentative agreement with AMPTP, effectively putting an end to the now 148-day strike, it’s official, after yesterday’s unanimous vote by the board of the WGA West and council of the WGA East that lifted the strike as of 12:01 am PT today, September 27, according to guild. The two parties penned a new three-year contract on Sunday after five consecutive days of negotiations. A deal ratification vote for eligible WGA guild members will now be held October 2-9.
A short summary of the new agreement can be found here; the complete agreement PDF can be downloaded here.
A note at the top of the WGA Negotiations - Tentative Agreement summary document on the WGAContract2023.org website stated, “We set out in this negotiation to address critical issues across our membership, brought on by changes in the business that were driving down writer pay and undermining working conditions. Prior to the strike, the companies refused to engage on most issues. The following is a summary of the deal terms for the 2023 MBA, as compared with the AMPTP offer on the table as of 5/1/2023. This contract—won with the power of member solidarity and our union siblings over a 148-day strike—incorporates meaningful gains and protections for writers in every segment of the membership.”
SAG-AFTRA, which is currently deep in its own strike, commended the WGA on the deal.
“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,” the statement said. “Since the day the WGA strike began, SAG-AFTRA members have stood alongside the writers on the picket lines. We remain on strike in our TV/Theatrical contract and continue to urge the studio and streamer CEOs and the AMPTP to return to the table and make the fair deal that our members deserve and demand.”
Now, on to the final ratification vote. And the possible SAG-AFTRA game industry strike.
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
