2023 Writers Guild of America strike

• 1. The Expiration Of May

  ›

  On the 1st of May 2023, the Minimum Basic Agreement expired for the Writers Guild of America. This document covered the work of 11,500 screenwriters across Hollywood. The expiration triggered a labor dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Writers argued that streaming residuals had cut their average incomes compared to ten years prior. Streaming shows like The Problem with Jon Stewart did not fall under the old agreement. Broadcast shows such as The Late Show with Stephen Colbert remained protected by the Minimum Basic Agreement. Writers on streaming platforms negotiated individually and received less pay than their broadcast counterparts. The WGA estimated its proposals would yield writers about $6,000 more per year. The AMPTP offer yielded significantly less money for the same work.

  1625

• 2. Picketing And Pressure

  ›

  Writers began picketing at 1:00 p.m. PDT on the 2nd of May 2023. They gathered outside Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank and Disney locations. Some studios faced direct confrontation when Lionsgate line producer Ian Woolf accelerated his car toward picketers Gabriel Alejandro Garza and Brian Egeston. Woolf later admitted he tried to scare them but claimed he did not see them initially. Lionsgate suspended Woolf following the incident. Air quality from Canadian wildfires paused picketing in New York during June. Hurricane Hilary canceled picketing in Los Angeles on August 21. By September 14, union leaders confirmed negotiations would restart the following week. Studio CEOs including David Zaslav and Bob Iger joined meetings on September 20.

  34383937

• 3. Artificial Intelligence Rules

  ›

  The union secured strict regulations on generative artificial intelligence usage within the industry. Producers could no longer use AI to replace writers or reduce their pay. Writers' material could not be used to train AI models without consent. Digital recreations of writers were also prohibited under the new terms. The AMPTP presented a proposal for AI content rules on the 22nd of August 2023. Talks remained at a stalemate until late September despite this concession. The final agreement explicitly stated that genAI would not be used to produce digital recreations. This provision marked a significant victory for the guild against technological displacement fears.

  204984

• 4. Production Halted And Canceled

  ›

  Studios halted ongoing productions and reduced staff during the work stoppage. Some production agreements were terminated using force majeure clauses. The VFX industry and prop making studios faced severe disruption. Warner Bros. announced its 2023 earnings would drop by $500 million due to the strike. Disney suspended deals with showrunners Mindy Kaling and J.J. Abrams. Bill Maher delayed the return of Real Time with Bill Maher after public backlash. The Animation Guild issued guidance on how to maintain solidarity while working on non-union projects. Many films and television programs paused completely or shut down operations entirely.

  88899054

• 5. Solidarity Across Unions

  ›

  SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher picketed alongside WGA members in May. Actors including Drew Barrymore and Jennifer Coolidge expressed support for the strike. Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, and Seth Meyers created Strike Force Five to support out-of-work staff. International unions like the Writers' Guild of Great Britain instructed members to refrain from working on American projects. The Australian Writers' Guild and Screenwriters Guild of Israel followed suit. Teamsters Local 399 promised not to cross picket lines despite their contract status. Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom offered mediation services to end the strikes. Elected officials appeared on picket lines to show political backing for the writers.

  9192939495

• 6. Ratification And Resolution

  ›

  A tentative agreement was reached on the 24th of September 2023. Union leadership announced the strike would officially end on September 27 at 12:01 a.m. PDT. On October 9, WGA membership ratified the deal with 99% voting in favor. The new contract included increases to minimum wage and pension rates. Health fund rates were improved for all members. Terms regarding length of employment and writing team sizes were enhanced. Residual payments for domestic and foreign streaming works increased significantly. The dispute lasted 148 days total. This duration tied it with the 1960 strike as the second-longest labor stoppage by the WGA.

  141585