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Hollywood studios disclose new offer to writers to end labor standoff
https://www.whatjobs.com/news/usa/us-employment-news/hollywood-studios-disclose-new-offer-to-writers-to-end-labor-standoff
By Nithya Bose in US Employment News, posted August 23, 2023
Hollywood studios and streaming services have released the latest contract proposal to the striking writers.
This move comes after a face-to-face meeting between industry executives and the Writers Guild of America (WGA).
The concessions include a guaranteed minimum employment duration and controls on using generative artificial intelligence.
Read More: Creative Artists Agency Announces Layoffs As Hollywood Strikes Continue
They also offered wage and residual increases and quarterly reports on streaming show viewing hours per title.
The strike, now nearing its fourth month, has the potential to disrupt the 2023-2024 television season and jeopardize several high-profile movie projects.
"Deeply committed to ending strike"
Carol Lombardini, president of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, said: “We have come to the table with an offer that meets the priority concerns the writers have expressed.
“We are deeply committed to ending the strike and are hopeful that the WGA will work toward the same resolution
The AMPTP represents major entertainment companies like Disney, Warner Bros., Netflix, Amazon, and Paramount.
Read More: Hollywood Writers Resume Negotiations With Studios After 100 Days Of Strikes
The alliance claims its latest offer comprehensively addresses all the issues prioritized by the writers.
A source said the meeting at the Luxe Hotel in Brentwood included Disney CEO Bob Iger, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos, and NBCUniversal Studio Group Chair Donna Langley.
In response to the offer, the WGA sent an email to its members expressing dissatisfaction, characterizing the meeting as an attempt to weaken their resolve and create division within the union.
WGA finds the offer inadequate, saying: “This wasn’t a meeting to make a deal. This was a meeting to get us to cave.”
The WGA said the offer “failed to sufficiently protect writers from the existential threats that caused us to strike in the first place.”
Read More: Marvel Studios Workers Look To Unionize As Hollywood Strikes Continue
The union intends to continue picketing today (Wednesday, August 23).
Talks between the WGA and AMPTP resumed in August, initially sparking hope for a resolution and the potential deal with the Screen Actors Guild, which went on strike in July.
However, frustration has since grown, with both sides expressing dissatisfaction with each other's commitment to reaching a fair agreement.
The studios had initially planned to release their offer's details last Friday, August 18, hoping the WGA would take it to its members for a vote.
By making the offer public, the studios aim to influence the entire WGA membership and potentially create internal tensions.
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13 percent pay hike
The AMPTP's offer includes a compound 13 percent pay hike over the three-year contract.
It also includes a 15 percent boost for writers serving as producers in the first year.
They also propose a 21.5 percent rise in global residuals for high-budget streaming shows.
The group has agreed to some WGA requests regarding minimum staffing and guaranteed writer employment duration.
Their offer includes fewer guaranteed writing positions than the writers had sought.
The AMPTP offers safeguards to ensure writers are not disadvantaged when generative AI is used in scripts without impacting writers' compensation, credit, or rights.
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