The AMPTP and WGA have come to a tentative agreement, and after 148 days, the WGA strike has ended, and writers are returning to work.
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As of 12:01am Pacific on Sept. 27, the Writers Guild of America strike has ended. At 148 days, it marked the second-longest labor action in the union’s history, being beaten by the 1988 action that lasted 153 days. The agreement must now be ratified by the 11,500 members of the union.
Following the votes to lift the restraining order by the WGA West Board and WGA East Council, the union said in a statement, “This allows writers to return to work during the ratification process, but does not affect the membership’s right to make a final determination on contract approval.” Writers will again be allowed to pitch, sell scripts, take meetings, and respond to studio notes.
Voting by the membership is set to take place between Oct. 2 and Oct. 9.
While the WGA is returning to work – and the odds look good that the membership will accept the new contract – SAG-AFTRA is still walking picket lines against the studios. While writing will resume, filming will still be at a standstill until the AMPTP and SAG-AFTRA return to the bargaining table and reach an agreement—no word as of yet as to when the two sides will return to the bargaining table.
