While they consider a proposed three-year deal that would include pay raises, some protections around the use of artificial intelligence, as well as some other gains, the Hollywood writers union called an end to the strike that started in May, allowing its members to return to work on September 27.
According to a statement from the Writers Guild of America (WGA), the decision was taken after the WGA leadership unanimously approved it. The 11,500 members have until October 9 to vote on the contract, according to Reuters.
With an estimated annual worth of $233 million, the agreement benefits screenwriters for motion pictures and television by providing them with raises over the course of the contract’s three years, higher health and pension contributions, and protections against the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
According to the agreement, big studios like Netflix, Walt Disney, and Warner Bros. Discovery have agreed to meet with the guild at least twice a year to talk about the use of AI in the creation and development of movies. Studios are not expressly prohibited from employing AI to create material, but authors still have the option to sue if their work is used to train AI.
Writers can now choose to use AI while creating screenplays, but businesses cannot compel this. If any content was created using AI, the studios must inform the writers.
Additionally, the WGA obtained commitments from writing rooms’ minimum staffing levels. The number of episodes in each season will be used to decide staffing, and over the next three years, minimum pay rates will increase by more than 12%.
Adam Conover, a member of the guild’s bargaining committee, wrote on X, “These are essential protections that the companies told us, to our faces, that they would NEVER give us.”
But because of our unity, Conover continued, “they bent, then broke, and gave us what we deserve. They simply cannot make a dollar without us. WE WON.”
Outside of the US, residuals for the usage of TV series and movies will rise, and the most well-liked streaming shows will receive a bonus.
“Our walkout was essential. Our attack was successful. According to television writer David Slack, our strike has been successful.
Bill Maher, the host of HBO’s “Real Time,” announced on social media that he would return with new episodes starting on September 29.