BREAKING NEWS: The End Is Near For The 2023 WGA Strike

After nearly five months, numbers of shutdown sets, and thousands of accumulated steps from the actors and writers on the picket line, there is a tentative agreement for the 2023 Minimum Basic Agreement. 

Three of the major issues referenced throughout the strike were related to remuneration, the size of writing rooms, and the role of artificial intelligence in the creative process. While we don’t have details of the agreement, we can only assume that all three of these issues were addressed as fairly as possible. In a message to its members, the WGA shared, “We can say, with great pride, that this deal is exceptional – with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of the membership.” 

What are the next steps for the WGA strike?

However, this does not mean that everything will be business as usual in the days to come. Before writers can return to work, they have to be instructed to do so by their union leadership. Moreover, the deal itself has to be written out in full, concluded by union leadership, and ratified by all WGA members. With the WGA lauding the proposed 2023 MBA as “exceptional”, there’s a strong sentiment that the deal will be accepted. 

Nevertheless, as mentioned in July, Hollywood is having a Workers’ Rights summer and the writers aren’t the only group on strike. SAG-AFTRA is the union responsible for actors, who went on strike July 14, 2023. For the striking actors, the issues leading their strike include pay, especially as they relate to residuals and revenue sharing, and the use of artificial intelligence like deep fake technology. 

The WGA maintains support for SAG-AFTRA

Amidst the news of the WGA reaching a tentative agreement with AMPTP, SAG-AFTRA has offered their congratulations to the WGA. In a statement of their own, they shared in part, “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.”

While the WGA has shared the news of a proposed MBA, they still encouraged their members to support the SAG-AFTRA strike. In part, their statement message read, “To be clear, no one is to return to work until specifically authorized to by the Guild. We are still on strike until then. But we are, as of today, suspending WGA picketing. Instead, if you are able, we encourage you to join the SAG-AFTRA picket lines this week.”

Exactly when the writers and actors end up going back to work is still unclear. We’ve seen some of our favorite shows delayed or canceled altogether, but with this news, we can only hope that we won’t be re-watching past seasons of our favorite shows for much longer!

Featured image by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images